ONOU 
D     ARM 


•    • 


HONOUR    AND    ARMS 


UNIf .  OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY.  LOS  ANGELES 


"'AH,    SlKK,     \\1IAT    ARK    Y<>r    AliOl'T    TO    1  n  i  ?J  '  " 

Page  32. 


HONOUR  8f  ARMS 

Tales  from   Froissart 


EDITED    BY 


MARY  MACLEOD 

Author  of  "  Stpries  from  the  Faerie  Queene, 
"  The  Book  of  King  Arthur,"  &c. 


ILLUSTRATED    BY 

GORDON    BROWNE 


NEW  YORK 

DODGE   PUBLISHING   COMPANY 
214-220,    EAST  23rd   STREET 


PRINTED  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN 


CONTENTS 

Page 

How  the  War  began  between  France 

and  England I 

"Knights  of  the  Hare"  .       ...  6 

The  Great  Sea-Fight  at  Sluys       .        .  14 
How    Twelve    Men    took    Edinburgh 

Castle 19 

King  Edward  in  Normandy   ...  25 

The  Passage  of  the  Ford       ...  32 

The  Battle  of  Crecy         ....  36 

The  Siege  of  Calais 49 

The  Battle  of  Poitiers     ....  62 

How  a  Servant  saved  his  Master         .  79 

V 

2131365 


vi  CONTENTS 

Page 

The  Sad  Story  of  the  Count  de  Foix's 

Only  Son 91 

The  Magic  Messenger    .                .        .  107 

A  Child-Queen 120 

The  Heart  of  King  Robert  Bruce        .  129 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


COLOURED  PLATES 
"Ah,    Sire    and    noble    King, 
what    are    you    about    to 
do?"     . 

They  perceived  by  his  banner 
that  the  King  of  England 
was  on  board 

They  tied  him  to  a  cart,  with 
some  of  their  harness 


Frontispiece 


To  face  page  l6 


72 


Grappling  with  the  squire,  flung  him  to 
the  ground 

"  My  lord,  you  show  but  little  confidence 
in  the  honour  of  my  brother,  the 
King  of  Navarre"  .... 

"I  will  send  you  a  champion  that  you 
will  be  more  afraid  of"  . 

vii 


Page 


95 


109 


HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

How  the  War  began  between  France 
and  England 

HISTORY  tells  us  that  Philip,  King  of  France, 
surnamed  "  the  Handsome,"  had  three  sons, 
besides  his  beautiful  daughter,  Isabella,  who 
was  married  to  King  Edward  II.  of  England. 
Those  three  sons  were  also  very  handsome. 
The  eldest  was  called  Louis;  the  second, 
Philip  the  Long  (or  Tall) ;  and  the  third, 
Charles.  All  these  were  Kings  of  France  after 
their  father  King  Philip,  in  lawful  succession, 
and  died  without  leaving  any  sons  of  their 
own  to  succeed  them. 

When  the  youngest  brother,  Charles,  died, 
the  twelve  peers  and  barons  of  France  did 
not  give  the  kingdom  to  Isabella,  the  sister, 
for  they  held  the  country  was  so  noble  that 


2  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

no  woman  was  worthy  to  govern  it ;  neither 
did  they  give  it  to  her  son,  who  was  now 
Edward  III.  of  England,  for  they  said  the  son 
could  have  no  claim  where  the  mother  had 
none.  For  these  reasons  they  gave  the  king- 
dom of  France  to  Philip  of  Valois,  nephew 
of  King  Philip  the  Handsome.  Thus,  as  it 
seemed  to  many  people,  the  succession  went 
out  of  the  right  line,  and  this  gave  rise  to  the 
long  and  bitter  wars  between  France  and 
England  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries. 

King  Edward  III.  thought  he  had  a  right- 
ful claim  to  the  throne  of  France,  and  was 
not  disposed  to  give  it  up  lightly.  He  there- 
fore asked  his  Privy  Council  what  they  ad- 
vised him  to  do.  They  all  agreed  it  was  too 
great  a  matter  for  them  to  decide,  and  coun- 
selled King  Edward  to  consult  the  Earl  of 
Hainault,  whose  daughter  he  had  married. 
Ambassadors  were  accordingly  sent  over  to 
Holland  and  Flanders,  and  the  Earl  of 
Hainault  and  many  other  rich  and  power- 
ful lords  said  that  if  Edward  would  attack 
the  French  King  Philip,  they  would  stand 


HOW  THE  WAR   BEGAN  3 

by  him   and   bring  a  large   army  to    help 
him. 

It  was  agreed  that  this  should  be  done  the 
summer  following,  after  the  Feast  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  which  is  June  24.  When,  there- 
fore, winter  was  over,  and  summer  come,  and 
the  Feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  drawing  near, 
the  lords  of  England  and  Germany  made  pre- 
parations to  invade  France.  The  King  of 
France  also  made  his  preparations  to  meet 
them,  for  he  was  well  acquainted  with  part  of 
what  they  intended,  though  he  had  not  yet 
received  any  challenge.  King  Edward  col- 
lected his  stores  in  England,  and  as  soon  as 
St.  John's  Day  was  passed,  took  them  across 
the  sea  to  Vilvorde,  a  small  town  in  Brabant, 
between  Brussels  and  Mechlin,  on  the  river 
Senne.  Here  he  remained  till  September, 
waiting  for  the  German  lords  to  bring  up 
their  troops  as  they  had  promised,  but  they 
kept  on  making  constant  excuses  for  delay. 
At  last,  in  obedience  to  his  summons,  they 
came  to  Mechlin,  where,  after  many  debates 
they  agreed  that  the  King  ought  to  be  able  to 
march  in  a  fortnight,  when  they  would  be  quite 


4  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

ready;  and  in  order  that  their  cause  might 
have  a  better  appearance  they  determined  to 
send  challenges  to  King  Philip.  These  chal- 
lenges were  given  in  charge  to  the  Bishop  of 
Lincoln,  who  carried  them  to  Paris,  and  did 
his  message  so  justly  and  well  that  he  was 
blamed  by  no  one. 

A  week  after  the  challenges  had  been  sent, 
and  when  he  imagined  the  King  of  France 
had  received  them,  a  gallant  English  knight, 
Sir  Walter  Manny,  collected  about  forty  men 
on  whom  he  knew  he  could  rely,  and  rode 
night  and  day  till  he  came  to  the  borders  of 
France.  This  he  did  because  he  had  made 
a  promise  in  England  in  the  presence  of 
nobles  and  ladies  that  he  would  be  the  first 
to  enter  France,  and  take  some  castle  or 
strong  town,  and  perform  some  gallant  feat 
of  arms. 

A  little  before  sunrise,  Sir  Walter  Manny 
and  his  followers  came  to  a  town  called 
Mortaigne,  where  luckily  they  found  the 
wicket  open.  Sir  Walter  alighted,  with  some 
of  his  companions,  and  having  passed  the 


HOW  THE  WAR   BEGAN  5 

wicket  in  silence,  and  placed  a  guard  there, 
he  then  with  his  pennon  marched  down  the 
street  before  the  great  Tower,  but  the  gate 
and  the  wicket  of  the  Tower  were  close  shut. 
The  watchman  of  the  castle  heard  their 
voices,  and  seeing  them  from  his  post  began 
to  cry  out  "  Treason  !  Treason  ! "  This  awak- 
ened the  soldiers  and  inhabitants,  but  they 
did  not  make  any  sally  from  the  fort.  Sir 
Walter  on  this  retreated  into  the  street,  and 
after  setting  fire  to  some  of  the  houses,  which 
greatly  alarmed  the  townsfolk,  he  marched 
away  with  his  little  band.  After  this  he  took 
two  or  three  other  strong  castles,  and  then 
he  returned  to  Brabant,  to  King  Edward, 
whom  he  found  at  Mechlin,  and  to  whom 
he  related  all  he  had  done. 

When  King  Philip  received  the  challenges 
from  King  Edward  and  his  allies,  he  collected 
men-at-arms  and  soldiers  from  all  quarters. 
As  soon  as  they  knew  war  was  declared,  a 
band  of  corsairs — Genoese,  Bretons,  Nor- 
mans, Picards,  and  Spaniards — whom  King 
Philip  supported  at  his  own  cost  to  harass 


6  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

the  English,  landed  one  Sunday  morning 
in  the  harbour  at  Southampton,  whilst  the 
inhabitants  were  at  church.  They  entered 
the  town,  pillaged  it,  killed  many,  and  injured 
more,  and  having  loaded  their  vessels  with 
booty,  made  sail  for  the  coast  of  Normandy. 
They  landed  at  Dieppe,  and  there  divided  the 
plunder. 

Thus  began  the  long  and  bitter  war  be- 
tween France  and  England. 


The  Knights  of  the  Hare 

In  the  meanwhile  there  were  many  skir- 
mishes in  Flanders  where  King  Edward  was, 
for  all  the  different  States  were  quarrelling 
with  each  other,  and  some  took  side  with  the 
English,  and  some  were  against  them.  The 
old  Earl  of  Hainault  died,  and  the  young 
Earl  William  consented  to  fight  for  King 
Edward  only  as  long  as  he  remained  on 
Flemish  ground;  Earl  William  said  the 
moment  the  King  crossed  the  border  into 
France  he  would  have  to  leave  him,  for  the 
French  King,  his  uncle,  had  sent  to  him  to 


THE   KNIGHTS  OF  THE  HARE     7 

request  his  aid,  and  he  did  not  wish  to 
incur  his  ill-will. 

When,  therefore,  they  came  to  the  river 
Scheldt,  which  was  the  boundary  between  the 
two  countries,  the  young  Earl  took  his  leave, 
and  turned  back  with  all  his  troops.  King 
Edward  crossed  the  Scheldt,  and  entered  the 
kingdom  of  France,  and  his  people  began 
to  over-run  the  country  and  lay  it  waste. 
News  soon  came  to  him  that  Philip,  the 
French  King,  was  coming  after  him,  with 
an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand  men.  King 
Edward  counted  his  own  men,  and  found 
they  amounted  to  more  than  forty  thousand, 
so  he  resolved  to  wait  for  King  Philip  and 
offer  him  battle. 

The  King  of  France  now  advanced  to 
within  two  leagues  of  the  English,  where  he 
halted  his  army,  in  readiness  to  fight.  Earl 
William  of  Hainault  hearing  news  of  this, 
pushed  forward  at  once  to  join  him,  with 
about  five  hundred  fighting  men.  When  he 
presented  himself  before  his  uncle,  King 
Philip  did  not  receive  him  very  graciously, 
because  he  had  been  fighting  in  Flanders 


8  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

on  the  side  of  his  adversary.  Earl  William, 
however,  managed  to  excuse  himself  so  hand- 
somely that  the  King  and  his  counsellors 
were  well  enough  satisfied,  and  the  marshal 
who  had  the  arranging  of  the  forces  posted 
him  not  far  from  the  English  lines. 

The  King  of  England  and  the  King  of 
France  were  now  both  encamped  on  a  great 
plain,  so  that  neither  had  any  advantage  of 
ground.  In  the  memory  of  man  there  had 
never  been  seen  so  fine  an  assembly  of  great 
lords  as  were  there  gathered  together.  For 
the  King  of  France  was  there  in  person,  and 
he  had  with  him  King  Charles  of  Bohemia, 
the  King  of  Navarre,  and  the  young  King 
David  of  Scotland,  who  was  brother-in-law 
to  King  Edward  III.,  but  then  at  war  with 
him,  for  there  was  constant  strife  between 
Scotland  and  England  in  those  days.  Dukes, 
counts,  barons,  and  knights  without  number 
were  also  with  the  French  King,  and  they 
were  daily  increasing.  The  King  of  England 
also  had  with  him  a  gallant  array  of  noble 
lords  and  warriors. 

When  the  King  of  England  knew  that  the 


THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  HARE     9 

King-  of  France  was  within  two  leagues  of 
him,  he  summoned  the  chiefs  of  his  army, 
and  asked  what  was  the  best  way  to  preserve 
his  honour,  for  it  was  his  intention  to  fight. 
The  lords  looked  at  each  other,  and  requested 
the  Duke  of  Brabant  to  give  his  opinion. 
The  Duke  replied  that  he  was  for  fighting, 
as  they  could  not  depart  in  honour  without 
it,  and  he  advised  that  a  herald  should  be 
sent  to  the  King  of  France  to  offer  him  battle, 
and  to  have  the  day  fixed. 

A  herald  who  could  speak  French  well 
was  chosen  for  this  commission.  King  Philip 
willingly  accepted  the  challenge,  and  ap- 
pointed the  following  Friday  for  the  battle, 
this  being  Wednesday.  The  herald  returned 
to  the  English  host,  well  clad  in  handsome 
furred  mantles,  which  the  French  King  and 
lords  had  bestowed  on  him  for  the  sake  of 
the  message  he  bore.  The  day  being  thus 
fixed,  the  captains  of  both  armies  were  told 
what  had  been  arranged,  and  every  one  made 
his  preparations  accordingly. 

When  Friday  morning  came,  the  two 
armies  got  themselves  in  readiness,  and  heard 


10  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

mass,  each  lord  among  his  own  people,  and 
in  his  own  quarters. 

The  English  army  was  drawn  out  on  the 
plain  and  formed  three  battalions  of  infantry. 
The  first  battalion  was  commanded  by  the 
Duke  of  Gueldres  and  other  Flemish  lords, 
the  second  by  the  Duke  of  Brabant,  and  the 
third,  which  was  the  greatest,  by  the  King  in 
person.  King  Edward  had  with  him  many 
gallant  lords,  and  he  created  many  knights 
on  the  field  of  battle,  as  was  the  custom 
of  the  times.  When  everything  had  been 
arranged,  and  each  lord  under  his  proper 
banner  as  had  been  ordered  by  the  marshals, 
King  Edward  mounted  an  ambling  palfrey, 
and  attended  only  by  Sir  Robert  d'Artois,  Sir 
Reginald  Cobham,  and  Sir  Walter  Manny, 
rode  along  the  lines  of  his  army,  and  en- 
treated the  lords  and  their  companions  to  aid 
him  to  preserve  his  honour,  which  they 
all  promised.  He  then  returned  to  his  own 
division,  set  himself  in  battle  array,  as  became 
him,  and  ordered  that  no  one  should  advance 
before  the  banners  of  the  marshals. 

In  the  French  army  there  were  four  kings, 


THE   KNIGHTS   OF  THE   HARE    II 

six  dukes,  twenty-six  earls,  upwards  of  five 
thousand  knights,  and  more  than  forty  thou- 
sand common  men.  The  French  were  formed 
in  three  large  battalions,  each  consisting  of 
fifteen  thousand  men  at  arms,  and  twenty 
thousand  men  on  foot. 

Strange  to  say,  after  all  these  preparations 
there  was  no  battle  at  all ! 

It  was  a  matter  of  much  wonder  how  two 
such  fine  armies  could  separate  without  fight- 
ing. But  the  French  could  not  agree  among 
themselves,  and  began  to  argue  and  dispute, 
each  speaking  out  his  thoughts.  Some  said 
it  would  be  a  great  shame  and  very  blame- 
worthy if  King  Philip  did  not  give  battle 
when  he  saw  his  enemies  so  near,  and  drawn 
up  in  his  own  kingdom  in  battle  array  to 
fight  with  him  according  to  his  promise. 
Others  said  it  would  be  a  signal  token  of 
madness  to  fight,  as  they  were  not  certain 
that  some  treachery  was  not  intended.  Be- 
sides, they  said,  if  fortune  went  against  them, 
King  Philip  ran  a  great  risk  of  losing  his 
kingdom,  while  even  if  he  conquered  he  would 
be  no  nearer  gaining  possession  of  England. 


12  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Thus  the  day  passed  till  nearly  twelve 
o'clock  in  dispute  and  debate.  About  noon, 
it  happened  that  a  hare  was  started  in  the 
plain  and  ran  among  the  French  army,  who 
began  to  make  a  great  shouting  and  noise. 
Those  in  the  rear  imagined  that  fighting  had 
begun  in  the  front,  and  many  put  on  their 
helmets  and  made  ready  their  swords.  In 
preparation  for  the  coming  battle,  some 
of  the  French  leaders  began  making  fresh 
knights ;  in  especial,  the  young  Earl  of  Hain- 
ault,  who  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment 
knighted  fourteen  of  his  followers.  These 
were  always  known  afterwards  as  "the 
Knights  of  the  Hare." 

In  this  situation  the  two  armies  remained 
all  Friday,  without  moving,  except  as  has 
been  told.  In  the  midst  of  the  debates  of  the 
French  King's  council,  letters  were  brought 
to  King  Philip  from  Robert,  King  of  Sicily. 
This  King  was  said  to  be  a  great  astrologer, 
and  full  of  deep  and  strange  knowledge.  He 
had  often  studied  the  influence  of  the  stars 
on  the  lives  of  King  Philip  and  King  Edward, 
and  according  to  his  belief  he  found  by  astro- 


THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  HARE    13 

logy  that  if  ever  the  King  of  France  fought 
with  the  King  of  England  in  person,  the 
French  King  would  surely  be  defeated.  In 
consequence  of  this,  he  as  a  wise  king,  and 
much  fearing  the  danger  and  peril  of  his 
cousin,  King  Philip,  had  long  before  sent 
letters  most  earnestly  to  beg  King  Philip 
and  his  council  never  to  give  battle  to  the 
English  when  King  Edward  should  be  there 
in  person. 

This  letter  from  the  King  of  Sicily,  and 
the  doubts  they  already  felt,  sorely  disheart- 
ened many  of  the  French  lords.  The  King 
was  told  of  this,  and  notwithstanding  was 
very  eager  for  the  combat,  but  he  was  so 
strongly  dissuaded  from  it  that  the  day  passed 
quietly,  and  each  man  retired  to  his  quarters. 

When  the  Earl  of  Hainault  saw  there  was 
no  likelihood  of  a  battle  he  departed  with 
all  his  people,  and  returned  to  Flanders. 
Then  the  King  of  England,  the  Duke  of 
Brabant,  and  the  other  lords  began  to  prepare 
for  their  return,  packed  up  their  baggage, 
and  went  that  Friday  night  to  Avesnes  in 
Hainault,  where  they  took  up  their  quarters. 


14  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

The  King  of  France  retired  to  his  lodgings, 
very  angry  that  the  battle  had  not  taken 
place.  But  his  councillors  told  him  he  had 
acted  very  rightly,  and  had  valiantly  pursued 
his  enemies,  insomuch  that  he  had  driven 
them  out  of  his  kingdom,  and  that  the  King 
of  England  would  have  to  make  many  such 
expeditions  before  he  could  conquer  the 
kingdom  of  France.  The  next  day  King 
Philip  gave  permission  for  all  to  depart— 
dukes,  barons,  knights,  and  so  on,  most 
courteously  thanking  the  leaders  for  having 
come  so  well  equipped  to  serve  and  assist 
him.  Thus  ended  this  great  expedition,  and 
every  man  returned  to  his  own  house. 

The  Great  Sea^Fight  at  Sluys 

King  Edward  III.  arrived  back  in  England 
about  St.  Andrew's  Day,  1339,  and  was  joy- 
fully received  by  his  subjects,  who  were 
anxious  for  his  return.  Great  complaints 
were  made  to  him  of  the  ravages  which  the 
Norman,  Picard,  and  Spanish  corsairs,  under 
Sir  Hugh  Quiriel,  had  committed  at  South- 


GREAT  SEA-FIGHT  AT  SLUYS    15 

hampton;  upon  which  he  answered  that 
whenever  it  came  to  his  turn,  he  would  make 
them  pay  dearly  for  it— and  he  kept  his  word 
before  a  year  was  out. 

In  the  summer  of  the  following  year,  1340, 
King  Edward  again  embarked  for  Flanders,  in 
order  to  help  his  brother-in-law,  Sir  John 
Hainault,  in  his  war  against  France,  for  the 
Duke  of  Normandy,  eldest  son  of  the  King 
of  France,  had  invaded  his  territory.  Sir 
Hugh  Quiriel,  with  a  fleet  of  over  a  hundred 
and  twenty  large  vessels,  lay  at  anchor  just 
outside  Sluys,  by  order  of  the  King  of  France, 
waiting  the  return  of  the  King  of  England, 
to  dispute  his  passage. 

When  the  King's  fleet  had  almost  got 
to  Sluys,  they  saw  so  many  masts  standing 
before  it  that  they  looked  like  a  wood.  The 
King  asked  the  commander  of  his  ship  what 
they  could  be,  and  he  answered  that  he 
thought  they  must  be  the  band  of  Normans 
which  the  King  of  France  kept  at  sea,  which 
had  so  often  done  the  English  damage,  had 
burned  the  good  town  of  Southampton,  and 
captured  the  large  ship  the  Christopher. 


16  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

"I  have  long  wished  to  meet  with  them," 
said  the  King,  "and  now,  please  God  and 
St.  George,  we  will  fight  with  them;  for  in 
truth  they  have  done  me  so  much  mischief 
that  I  will  be  revenged  on  them  if  possible." 

King  Edward  then  drew  up  all  his  vessels, 
placing  the  strongest  in  the  front,  and  his 
archers  on  the  wings.  Between  every  two 
vessels  there  was  one  with  men-at-arms. 
He  stationed  some  detached  vessels  as  a 
reserve,  full  of  archers,  to  aid  such  as  might 
be  damaged.  There  were  in  this  fleet  a 
great  many  ladies  from  England,  countesses, 
baronesses,  and  knights'  and  gentlemen's 
wives,  who  were  on  their  way  to  Ghent  to 
attend  the  Queen.  These  the  King  had 
guarded  most  carefully  by  three  hundred 
men-at-arms  and  five  hundred  archers. 

When  the  King  of  England  and  his 
marshals  had  properly  divided  the  fleet,  they 
hoisted  their  sails  to  have  the  wind  on  their 
quarter,  as  the  sun  shone  full  in  their  faces, 
which  they  considered  might  be  of  disadvan- 
tage to  them,  and  stretched  out  a  little,  so 
that  at  last  they  got  the  wind  as  they  wished. 


"TllKY    I'KRCKIVKD    HY    HIS    HANNKk    THAT    THE    KlNG    OF    ENGLAND 
WAS    ON     HOARD." 

Page  17. 


GREAT  SEA-FIGHT  AT  SLUYS    17 

The  Normans,  who  saw  them  tack,  could 
not  help  wondering  why  they  did  so,  and 
said  they  took  good  care  to  turn  about,  for 
they  were  afraid  of  meddling  with  them. 
They  perceived,  however,  by  his  banner,  that 
the  King  of  England  was  on  board,  which 
gave  them  great  joy,  as  they  were  eager 
to  fight  with  him ;  so  they  put  their  vessels 
in  proper  order,  for  they  were  expert  and 
gallant  men  on  the  seas.  They  filled  the 
Christopher,  the  large  ship  which  they  had 
taken  the  year  before  from  the  English, 
with  trumpets  and  other  warlike  instru- 
ments, and  ordered  her  to  fall  upon  the 
English.  The  battle  then  began  very  fiercely ; 
archers  and  cross-bowmen  shot  with  all  their 
might  at  each  other,  and  the  men-at-arms 
engaged  hand  to  hand.  There  were  many 
valiant  deeds  performed,  many  prisoners 
made,  and  many  rescues.  The  Christopher, 
which  led  the  van,  was  re-captured  by  the 
English,  and  all  in  her  taken  or  killed.  Then 
there  were  great  shouts  of  rejoicing,  and  the 
English  manned  her  again  with  archers,  and 
sent  her  to  fight  against  the  Genoese. 


i8  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

This  battle  was  very  terrible.  Fights  at 
sea  are  more  destructive  and  obstinate  than 
upon  land,  for  it  is  not  possible  to  retreat  or 
flee — every  one  must  abide  his  fortune,  and 
exert  his  prowess  and  valour.  Sir  Hugh 
Quiriel  and  his  companions  were  bold  and 
determined  men,  had  done  much  mischief 
to  the  English  at  sea,  and  destroyed  many 
of  their  ships.  This  fight,  therefore,  lasted 
from  early  in  the  morning  until  noon,  and  the 
English  were  hard  pressed,  for  their  enemies 
were  four  to  one,  and  the  greater  part  men 
who  were  used  to  the  sea.  The  King,  who 
was  in  the  flower  of  his  youth,  showed  himself 
on  that  day  a  gallant  knight,  as  did  many  of 
the  nobles  who  were  with  him.  They  fought 
so  valiantly  that,  with  some  assistance  from 
Bruges,  the  French  were  completely  defeated, 
and  all  the  Normans  and  others  killed  or 
drowned.  This  was  soon  known  all  over 
Flanders,  and  when  the  news  came  to  the 
two  armies,  the  Hainaulters  were  as  much 
rejoiced  as  their  enemies  were  dismayed. 

When  King  Philip  of  France  heard  of  the 
defeat  of  his  fleet,  and  that  the  King  of 


EDINBURGH   CASTLE  19 

England  was  quietly  landed  in  Flanders,  he 
was  much  enraged,  but  as  he  could  not  amend 
it,  he  immediately  decamped  and  retreated 
towards  Arras. 

A  fresh  plan  occurred  to  him,  however,  by 
which  he  might  drive  King  Edward  back  to 
his  own  country. 

How  Twelve  Men  took  Edinburgh 
Castle 

England  and  Scotland  had  long  been  at 
war,  and  the  Scotch  King  David  had  entered 
into  an  alliance  with  the  King  of  France,  and, 
as  we  have  seen,  fought  with  him  against 
King  Edward. 

The  English  had  taken  possession  of  a 
large  portion  of  Scotland,  but  there  was  still 
a  remnant  that  remained  unconquered,  and 
this  was  under  the  governance  of  Sir  William 
Douglas,  the  Earl  of  Moray,  Earl  Patrick  of 
Dunbar,  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  Sir  Robert 
Keith,  Sir  Simon  Fraser,  and  Alexander 
Ramsay.  During  the  space  of  seven  years 
they  had  secreted  themselves  in  the  Forest 


20  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

of  Jedworth,  in  winter  as  well  as  in  summer, 
and  from  there  had  carried  on  a  war  against 
all  the  towns  and  fortresses  where  King 
Edward  had  placed  any  garrison,  in  which 
many  perilous  and  gallant  adventures  befel 
them,  and  from  which  they  won  much  honour 
and  renown. 

Now  it  occurred  to  the  King  of  France  that 
if  he  could  stir  up  the  Scotch  to  active  warfare 
at  this  moment,  King  Edward  would  be 
forced  to  come  back  from  Flanders  to  protect 
his  own  country.  He  therefore  sent  over 
some  forces  to  Scotland,  which  arrived  safely 
in  the  town  of  Perth,  and  entreated  these 
Scotch  nobles  to  carry  on  so  bitter  a  war 
that  King  Edward  would  be  obliged  to  desist 
from  his  present  enterprise,  promising  them 
every  aid  if  they  did  so.  These  lords, 
therefore,  collected  their  forces  and  made 
themselves  ready.  They  left  the  Forest 
of  Jedworth,  traversed  Scotland,  retook  as 
many  fortresses  as  they  were  able,  passed 
by  Berwick,  and  crossing  the  river  Tyne, 
entered  Northumberland,  which  was  formerly 
a  kingdom  of  itself,  where  they  found  plenty  of 


EDINBURGH   CASTLE  21 

fat  cattle.  Having-  raided  the  whole  country 
as  far  as  Durham  and  beyond,  they  returned 
to  Scotland  and  gained  all  the  fortresses 
which  the  King  of  England  held,  except  the 
good  town  of  Berwick  and  three  other  castles, 
which  they  were  much  annoyed  not  to  be 
able  to  secure. 

These  castles  were  so  strong  that  one 
could  scarcely  find  their  equal  for  strength  in 
any  country  ;  one  was  Stirling,  another  Rox- 
burgh, and  the  third,  which  may  be  termed 
the  sovereign  castle  of  Scotland,  Edinburgh. 
This  last  is  situated  on  a  high  rock,  com- 
manding a  view  of  the  country  round  about ; 
the  mountain  has  so  steep  an  ascent  that  few 
can  go  up  it  without  stopping  once  or  twice. 
The  Governor  of  Edinburgh  Castle  at  that 
time  was  a  gallant  English  knight,  called 
Sir  Walter  Limousin. 

A  bold  thought  came  into  Sir  William 
Douglas's  mind,  which  he  mentioned  to  his 
companions,  the  Earl  of  Dunbar,  Sir  Robert 
Eraser  (who  had  been  tutor  to  King  David 
of  Scotland),  and  Alexander  Ramsay,  who  all 
agreed  to  try  to  carry  it  out.  They  collected 


22  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

upwards  of  two  hundred  Highlanders,  armed 
with  lances,  purchased  oats,  oatmeal,  coal, 
and  straw,  went  to  sea,  and  landed  peacably 
at  a  port  about  three  miles  from  Edinburgh 
Castle,  which  had  made  a  stronger  resistance 
than  all  the  other  castles.  When  they  had 
armed  themselves  they  issued  forth  in  the 
night  time,  and  having  chosen  ten  or  twelve 
from  among  them  in  whom  they  had  the 
greatest  confidence,  they  dressed  them  in  old 
threadbare  clothes,  with  torn  hats,  like  poor 
pedlars,  and  loaded  twelve  small  horses,  each 
with  a  sack  filled  with  oats,  meal,  or  coal. 
They  then  placed  the  rest  of  their  troop  in 
ambush  in  an  old  abbey,  ruined  and  unin- 
habited, close  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain 
where  the  castle  was  situated. 

At  daybreak  these  merchants,  who  were 
secretly  armed,  took  the  road  with  their 
horses  the  very  best  way  they  could  to  the 
castle.  When  they  had  got  about  half-way 
up  the  hill,  Sir  William  Douglas  and  Sir 
Simon  Fraser  went  on  before  the  others, 
whom  they  ordered  to  follow  in  silence,  and 
came  to  the  porter's  lodge.  They  told  this 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE  23 

man  that,  with  many  risks  and  fears,  they 
had  brought  coal,  oats,  and  meal,  and  if  there 
were  any  want  of  such  things  in  the  castle, 
they  would  be  glad  to  dispose  of  them  at 
a  cheap  rate. 

The  porter  replied  that  the  garrison  would 
thankfully  have  them,  but  it  was  so  early 
that  he  dared  not  awake  either  the  Governor 
or  his  steward ;  at  the  same  time  he  told 
them  to  come  forward  and  he  would  open 
the  other  gate.  The  false  pedlars  all  then 
passed  quietly  through,  and  entered  with 
their  loads  to  the  gate  of  the  barriers,  which 
the  porter  opened  for  them. 

Sir  William  Douglas  observed  that  the 
porter  had  all  the  other  great  keys  of  the 
castle  gates,  and  in  an  apparently  indifferent 
manner  he  inquired  which  opened  the  great 
gate  and  which  the  wicket. 

When  the  first  gate  was  opened  they  turned 
in  their  horses,  and  flung  off  the  loads  of  two, 
which  consisted  of  coal,  exactly  on  the  thres- 
hold of  the  gate,  so  that  it  could  not  be  shut ; 
then  they  seized  the  porter,  whom  they  slew 
so  suddenly  that  he  did  not  utter  a  word. 


24  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Then  they  took  the  keys,  and  opened  all  the 
gates,  and  Sir  William  Douglas  gave  a  blast 
on  his  horn  as  a  signal  for  his  companions ; 
they  then  flung  off  their  torn  clothes,  and 
placed  all  the  remainder  of  the  coal  between 
the  gates,  so  that  they  could  not  be  shut. 

When  those  in  the  ambush  heard  the  horn 
they  sallied  forth,  and  hastened  to  the  castle. 
The  noise  of  the  horn  awakened  the  watch- 
man of  the  castle,  at  that  moment  asleep,  who 
seeing  these  armed  men  running  up  the  castle 
hill,  blew  lustily  on  his  horn,  and  bawled 
out,  "  Treason  !  Treason  !  Arm  yourselves, 
my  masters,  as  fast  as  you  can,  for  here  are 
men-at-arms  advancing  to  our  fortress ! " 

All  the  garrison  roused  themselves  as 
quickly  as  they  could,  but  Sir  William  and  his 
twelve  companions  defended  the  gate,  so  that 
it  could  not  be  shut.  The  fight  then  grew 
hotter,  but  those  from  without  held  their 
ground  with  great  valour  until  their  com- 
panions from  ambush  arrived.  The  English 
garrison  made  a  gallant  defence,  but  Sir 
William  and  his  party  exerted  themselves  so 
much  that  the  fortress  was  taken.  The  Scots 


KING   EDWARD   IN   NORMANDY    25 

remained  in  the  castle  all  that  day,  and, 
having  driven  out  the  English,  appointed  for 
governor  a  squire  from  the  country  near 
called  Sir  Simon  de  Vesci,  and  gave  him 
many  of  his  countrymen  to  guard  the  castle, 
when  they  left  it. 

King  Edward  in  Normandy 

The  news  that  the  Scotch  had  re-taken  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh  was  brought  to  King 
Edward  while  he  was  besieging  the  town  of 
Tournay,  in  Flanders.  After  a  very  close 
siege  of  nearly  eleven  weeks,  a  truce  was 
arranged,  owing  to  the  good  offices  of  the 
Lady  John  de  Valois,  sister  of  the  French 
King,  who  with  great  earnestness  besought 
both  parties  to  make  peace.  The  truce  was 
to  last  for  one  year.  It  was  immediately  pro- 
claimed in  each  army,  and  as  soon  as  it  was 
agreed  to  and  sealed,  the  King  of  France, 
the  King  of  England,  and  all  the  other  great 
princes  and  lords  set  off  for  their  own 
countries. 

In  spite  of  this  truce,  however,  war  was 
soon  raging  more  fiercely  than  ever.  King 


26  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Philip  treacherously  put  to  death  a  noble 
French  lord  and  several  knights  on  pretence 
of  treason,  but  really  out  of  jealousy,  because 
he  imagined  the  King  of  England  had  shown 
them  some  favour.  When  news  of  the 
shameful  and  cruel  death  of  the  Lord  de 
Clisson  and  the  other  knights  was  brought 
to  King  Edward,  he  was  greatly  enraged  at 
it,  and  declared  that  the  King  of  France  had 
by  this  means  broken  and  infringed  the  truce 
which  they  had  agreed  on,  and  from  that 
moment  he  considered  the  truce  at  an  end, 
and  sent  King  Philip  his  defiance. 

English  troops  were  at  once  despatched  to 
Brittany  and  Gascony,  where  the  fighting 
grew  hotter  than  before.  The  English  over- 
ran a  great  part  of  the  country,  but  the 
French  attacked  them  valiantly,  and  scarcely 
a  day  passed  without  some  engagement. 

The  King  of  England  having  heard  how 
much  pressed  his  people  were,  determined 
to  lead  a  great  army  into  Gascony,  and  for 
this  purpose,  about  Midsummer  Day,  1346, 
he  embarked  from  Southampton. 

On  board  the  King's  ship  was  his  son,  the 


KING   EDWARD   IN   NORMANDY    27 

Prince  of  Wales,  who  was  at  that  time  only 
sixteen  years  old,  and  Sir  Godfrey  de  Har- 
court.  The  other  lords,  earls,  and  barons 
embarked  as  they  had  been  ordered.  There 
were  about  four  thousand  men-at-arms  and 
ten  thousand  archers,  not  including  the  Irish 
and  Welsh,  who  followed  the  army  on  foot. 

When  they  embarked  the  weather  was  as 
favourable  as  the  King  could  wish  to  carry 
him  to  Gascony ;  but  on  the  third  day  the 
wind  was  so  contrary  that  they  were  driven 
upon  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  where  they  cast 
anchor,  and  remained  for  six  days  and  six 
nights.  During  this  time  the  King  altered 
his  mind  about  going  to  Gascony,  through 
the  advice  of  Sir  Godfrey  de  Harcourt,  who 
convinced  him  that  it  would  be  better  to  land 
in  Normandy. 

"Sir,  that  province  is  one  of  the  most 
fertile  in  the  world,"  he  said,  "  and  you  may 
land  in  any  part  of  it  you  please  without 
hindrance,  for  no  one  will  think  of  opposing 
you.  You  will  find  in  Normandy  rich  towns 
and  handsome  castles,  without  any  means  of 
defence,  and  your  people  will  gain  wealth 


28  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

enough  to  suffice  them  for  twenty  years  to 
come.  Your  fleet  may  also  follow  you  up 
the  river  Orne  as  far  as  Caen." 

The  King  paid  much  heed  to  what  Sir 
Godfrey  de  Harcourt  said.  He  commanded 
his  sailors  to  steer  straight  for  Normandy, 
and  ordered  the  flag  of  the  admiral,  the  Earl 
of  Warwick,  to  be  hoisted  on  board  his  ship. 
He  took  the  lead,  as  Admiral  of  the  Fleet,  and 
made  for  Normandy  with  a  very  favourable 
wind.  The  fleet  anchored  near  the  district  of 
Coutances,  and  King  Edward  landed  at  a  port 
called  La  Hogue  St.  Vast.  Having  arrived 
there  safely  the  King  was  the  first  to  leap  on 
shore,  but  by  accident  he  fell,  and  with  such 
violence  that  the  blood  gushed  out  at  his  nose. 

"Dear  sir,"  said  the  knights  who  were 
near  him,  "let  us  entreat  you  to  return  to 
your  ship,  and  not  think  of  landing  to-day, 
for  this  is  an  unfortunate  omen." 

"Why,"  replied  the  King  instantly,  "  I  look 
on  it  as  very  favourable,  and  a  sign  that  the 
land  is  desirous  of  me." 

His  people  were  much  pleased  with  this 
answer. 


KING  EDWARD   IN   NORMANDY    29 

The  King  having  landed  his  forces,  divided 
his  army  into  three  battalions,  and  proceeded 
to  march  through  Normandy,  conquering  all 
the  district  as  they  went  along.  They  found 
it  rich  and  plentiful,  abounding  in  all  things, 
the  barns  full  of  every  sort  of  corn,  and  the 
houses  with  riches ;  the  inhabitants  at  their 
ease,  having  cars,  carts,  horses,  swine,  sheep, 
and  everything  in  abundance  which  the 
country  afforded.  The  English  army  seized 
whatever  they  chose  of  all  these  good  things. 

When  King  Philip  first  heard  of  the  de- 
struction the  King  of  England  was  making 
in  his  realm,  he  swore  that  the  English 
should  never  return  without  his  fighting 
them,  and  that  the  mischief  they  had  done  to 
his  people  should  be  dearly  paid  for.  He 
sent  out  letters  to  many  great  lords,  begging 
them  to  come  to  his  assistance,  and  one  of 
the  first  was  despatched  to  the  gallant 
King  of  Bohemia,  whom  he  much  loved,  and 
to  the  lord  Charles  of  Bohemia,  his  son, 
who  had  now  obtained  the  title  of  King  of 
Germany. 

In  the  meantime  the  English  had  advanced 


30  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

towards  Caen,  which  was  then  a  large  and 
prosperous  town,  full  of  draperies  and  all 
other  sorts  of  merchandise,  rich  citizens,  noble 
dames  and  damsels,  and  fine  churches.  There 
were  two  very  rich  monasteries,  and  the 
castle  was  the  handsomest  in  all  Normandy. 

The  townsmen  at  first  prepared  to  defend 
the  city  valiantly,  and  marched  out  to  oppose 
the  enemy,  but  when  they  saw  the  English 
advancing  with  banners  and  pennons  flying, 
and  saw  the  archers,  whom  they  had  never 
been  accustomed  to,  they  were  so  frightened 
that  they  took  to  flight,  and  ran  for  the 
town  in  great  disorder.  They  were  eagerly 
pursued  by  the  English,  who  soon  took 
possession  of  the  town. 

Sir  Godfrey  de  Harcourt,  the  Marshal  of 
the  King's  army,  always  wise  and  humane, 
begged  mercy  for  the  inhabitants.  He  rode 
through  the  streets,  his  banner  displayed 
before  him,  and  ordered  in  the  King's  name 
that  no  one  should  dare,  under  pain  of  imme- 
diate death,  to  insult  or  hurt  man  or  woman 
of  the  town,  or  attempt  to  set  fire  to  any  part 
of  it.  Several  of  the  inhabitants  on  hearing 


KING   EDWARD   IN   NORMANDY    31 

this  proclamation,  received  the  English  into 
their  houses,  and  others  opened  their  coffers 
to  them,  since  they  were  assured  of  their 
lives. 

When  King  Edward  had  finished  his  busi- 
ness in  Caen,  and  had  sent  his  fleet  to  Eng- 
land laden  with  clothes,  jewels,  gold  and 
silver  plate,  and  a  quantity  of  other  riches, 
and  upwards  of  sixty  knights  and  three 
hundred  able  citizens  prisoners,  he  continued 
his  march  as  before. 

His  army  advanced  so  near  Paris  that  the 
Parisians  were  much  alarmed,  for  the  city 
was  not  then  enclosed  with  walls.  King 
Philip  now  began  to  stir,  and  left  Paris  for 
St.  Denis,  about  two  leagues  away,  where  he 
found  the  King  of  Bohemia,  Lord  John  of 
Hainault,  the  Earl  of  Flanders,  and  a  great 
multitude  of  barons  and  knights  ready  to 
receive  him. 

When  the  people  of  Paris  heard  that  the 
King  of  France  was  on  the  point  of  leaving 
Paris,  they  came  to  him,  and  falling  on  their 
knees,  said : 

"Ah,  Sire  and  noble  King,  what  are  you 


32  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

about  to  do?  To  leave  your  fine  city  of 
Paris?" 

"My  good  people,  do  not  be  afraid,"  said 
the  King ;  "  the  English  will  not  come  nearer 
than  they  have  done." 

"Our  enemies  are  only  two  leagues  off," 
said  the  people ;  "  as  soon  as  they  know  you 
have  left  us,  they  will  come  here  at  once; 
and  we  are  not  able  to  resist  them  ourselves, 
nor  shall  we  find  any  to  defend  us.  Have  the 
kindness  therefore,  Sire,  to  remain  in  your 
good  city  of  Paris,  to  take  care  of  us." 

"I  am  going  to  St.  Denis,  to  my  army," 
replied  King  Philip,  "for  I  am  impatient  to 
pursue  the  English,  and  am  resolved  to  fight 
with  them  whatever  happens." 

The  Passage  of  the  Ford 

King  Edward,  in  the  meanwhile,  continued 
his  way  through  Normandy,  and  presently 
his  army  drew  near  to  the  good  town  of 
Abbeville.  They  were  anxious  to  cross  the 
river  Somme,  but  were  unable  to  find  a  pas- 
sage anywhere.  The  King  ordered  some 


THE  PASSAGE  OF  THE  FORD    33 

French  prisoners  to  be  brought  before  him, 
and  asked  most  courteously  if  any  of  them 
knew  a  ford  below  Abbeville  where  he  could 
pass  without  danger,  adding : 

"Whoever  will  show  us  such  a  ford  shall 
have  his  liberty,  and  that  of  any  twenty  of 
his  fellow  soldiers  whom  he  may  wish  to 
select." 

There  was  among  the  prisoners  a  cunning 
fellow,  whose  name  was  Gobin  Agace. 

"Sir,"  he  answered  the  King,  "I  promise 
you,  under  peril  of  my  life,  I  will  conduct 
you  to  such  a  place,  where  you  and  your 
whole  army  may  pass  the  river  Somme 
without  any  risk.  There  are  certain  fordable 
places  where  you  may  pass  twelve  men 
abreast  twice  in  the  day,  and  not  have  water 
above  your  knees ;  when  the  tide  is  in,  the 
river  is  full  and  deep,  and  no  one  can  cross 
it,  but  when  the  tide  is  out,  the  river  is  so 
low  that  it  may  be  passed  on  horseback  or 
on  foot  without  danger.  You  must  therefore 
set  out  early,  so  as  to  be  at  the  ford  before 
sunrise." 

"Friend,"   replied    the    King,    "if  I    find 

c 


34  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

what  thou  hast  just  said  to  be  true,  I  will 
give  thee  and  all  thy  companions  their  liberty ; 
and  I  will  besides  make  thee  a  present  of 
a  hundred  nobles  of  gold." 

King  Edward  gave  orders  for  every  one  to 
be  ready  to  march  at  the  first  sound  of  his 
trumpet,  and  to  go  forward. 

He  did  not  sleep  much  that  night,  but, 
rising  at  midnight,  ordered  his  trumpet  to 
sound.  Very  soon  everything  was  ready,  and 
the  baggage  being  loaded,  they  set  out  at 
daybreak,  and  rode  on  under  the  guidance 
of  Gobin  Agace  until  they  came  to  the  ford 
of  which  he  had  told  them,  about  sunrise. 
But  the  tide  was  at  that  time  so  full  they 
could  not  cross.  The  King,  however,  deter- 
mined to  wait  there  for  those  of  his  army  who 
had  not  yet  come  up ;  and  he  remained  until 
after  ten  o'clock,  when  the  tide  was  gone  out. 

The  King  of  France,  who  had  his  scouts  all 
over  the  country,  was  told  of  the  situation  of 
the  King  of  England.  He  imagined  he  would 
be  able  to  shut  him  up  between  Abbeville 
and  the  river  Somme,  and  thus  take  him 
prisoner,  or  force  him  to  fight  at  a  disadvan- 


THE  PASSAGE  OF  THE  FORD    35 

tage.  He  ordered  a  great  baron  of  Nor- 
mandy, called  Sir  Gode'mar  du  Fay,  to  guard 
this  ford,  which  was  the  only  place  where  the 
English  could  cross. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  English,  Sir  Gode'mar 
du  Fay  drew  up  his  men  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  to  defend  and  guard  the  ford.  The  King 
of  England,  however,  did  not  for  that  give  up 
his  intention  of  crossing ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
tide  had  sufficiently  gone  out,  he  ordered  his 
marshals  to  dash  into  the  water,  in  the  names 
of  God  and  St.  George.  The  most  doughty 
and  the  best  mounted  leaped  in  first,  and  in 
the  river  the  fight  began.  Many  on  both 
sides  were  unhorsed  into  the  water;  there 
were  some  knights  and  squires  from  Artois 
and  Picardy  in  the  pay  of  Sir  Gode'mar,  and 
they  seemed  to  be  equally  fond  of  tilting  in 
water  as  on  dry  land. 

The  French  were  drawn  up  in  battle  array, 
near  the  narrow  pass  leading  to  the  ford,  and 
the  English  were  much  harassed  by  them  as 
they  came  out  of  the  water  to  gain  the  land ; 
for  there  were  among  them  Genoese  cross- 
bowmen  who  did  them  much  mischief.  On 


36  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

the  other  hand,  the  English  archers  shot  so 
well  together  that  they  forced  the  men-at- 
arms  to  give  way.  At  this  ford  many  gallant 
feats  of  arms  were  performed  on  both  sides, 
but  in  the  end  the  English  crossed  over,  and 
as  they  came  on  shore  hastened  to  the  fields. 
After  the  King,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  the 
other  lords  had  crossed,  the  French  did  not 
long  keep  in  the  order  they  were  in,  but  ran 
off  as  fast  as  they  could. 

The  King  of  England,  when  he  had  crossed 
the  Somme,  gave  thanks  to  God  for  it,  and 
began  his  march  in  the  same  order  he  had 
done  before.  He  called  Gobin  Agace  to  him, 
gave  him  his  freedom  without  ransom,  as 
well  as  that  of  his  companions,  and  ordered 
the  hundred  nobles  of  gold  to  be  given  him, 
and  also  a  good  horse. 

The  Battle  of  Crecy 

King  Edward  continued  his  march,  think- 
ing to  take  up  his  quarters  at  a  good  and 
large  town  called  Nozelles,  situated  hard  by ; 
but  when  he  was  told  it  belonged  to  the 


THE   BATTLE  OF  CRECY          37 

Countess  d'Aumarle,  sister  to  the  dead  Count 
Robert  d'Artois,  one  of  his  faithful  lords,  he 
sent  to  assure  the  inhabitants,  as  well  as  all 
her  farmers,  that  they  should  not  be  hurt. 

The  two  other  battalions  of  his  army  came 
on  a  Friday  in  the  afternoon  to  where  the 
King  was,  and  they  fixed  their  quarters  all 
three  together,  near  Crecy,  in  Ponthieu.  The 
King  of  England,  who  had  been  told  that  the 
King  of  France  was  following  him  to  give 
battle,  said  to  his  people  :  "  Let  us  post  our- 
selves here,  for  we  will  not  go  further  till  we 
have  seen  our  enemies.  I  have  good  reason 
to  wait  for  them  on  this  spot,  as  I  am  now 
upon  the  lawful  inheritance  of  my  lady-mother, 
which  was  given  her  as  her  marriage  portion ; 
and  I  am  resolved  to  defend  it  against  my 
adversary,  Philip  of  Valois." 

On  account  of  his  not  having  more  than 
an  eighth  part  of  the  forces  which  the  King 
of  France  had,  his  marshals  fixed  on  the 
best  situation,  and  the  army  went  and  took 
possession  of  it.  He  then  sent  his  scouts 
towards  Abbeville,  to  learn  if  the  King  of 
France  meant  to  take  the  field  this  Friday; 


38  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

but  they  returned  and  said  they  saw  no 
appearance  of  it,  on  which  King  Edward  dis- 
missed his  men  to  their  quarters,  with  orders 
to  be  ready  early  in  the  morning,  and  to 
assemble  in  the  same  place. 

Rising  early  the  next  morning,  a  solemn 
service  of  prayer  was  held,  and  King  Edward 
and  the  Prince  of  Wales  took  the  Sacrament, 
as  did  the  greater  part  of  his  army.  After- 
wards the  King  ordered  the  men  to  arm  them- 
selves and  assemble  on  the  ground  he  had 
before  fixed  on.  He  had  enclosed  a  large 
park  near  a  wood,  on  the  rear  of  his  army,  in 
which  he  placed  all  his  baggage,  waggons, 
and  horses,  and  this  park  had  but  one 
entrance.  His  men-at-arms  and  archers  re- 
mained on  foot. 

The  army  was  then  divided  into  three 
battalions.  In  the  first  he  placed  the  young 
Prince  of  Wales,  and  with  him  the  Earls  of 
Warwick  and  Oxford,  Sir  Godfrey  de  Har- 
court,  and  many  other  noble  lords,  knights, 
and  squires.  In  this  division  there  were 
about  eight  hundred  men-at-arms,  two  thou- 
sand archers,  and  a  thousand  Welshmen. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CRECY          39 

They  advanced  in  regular  order  to  their 
ground,  each  lord  under  his  banner  and 
pennon,  and  in  the  centre  of  his  men.  The 
third  battalion  was  commanded  by  the 
King,  and  was  composed  of  about  seven 
thousand  men-at-arms  and  twelve  hundred 
archers. 

King  Edward  then  mounted  a  small  palfrey, 
and  with  a  white  wand  in  his  hand  and 
attended  by  his  two  marshals  he  rode  at  a 
foot's  pace  through  all  his  ranks,  encourag- 
ing and  entreating  the  army  that  they  would 
guard  his  honour  and  defend  his  right. 
He  spoke  this  so  sweetly,  and  with  such  a 
cheerful  countenance,  that  all  who  had  been 
dispirited  were  at  once  comforted  by  seeing 
and  hearing  him.  When  he  had  thus  visited 
all  the  battalions  it  was  near  ten  o'clock; 
he  retired  to  his  own  division,  and  ordered 
the  men  to  eat  heartily.  They  ate  and  drank 
at  their  ease;  and  having  packed  up  pots, 
barrels,  and  so  on,  in  the  carts,  they  returned 
to  their  battalions,  according  to  the  marshal's 
orders,  and  seated  themselves  on  the  ground, 
placing  their  helmets  and  bows  before  them 


40  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

that  they  might  be  the  fresher  when  their 
enemies  should  arrive. 

That  same  Saturday  the  King  of  France 
rose  early  and  heard  prayers  in  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Peter's  in  Abbeville,  where  he  was  lodged ; 
having  ordered  his  army  to  do  the  same  he 
left  that  town  after  sunrise.  When  he  had 
marched  about  two  leagues  from  Abbeville, 
and  was  approaching  the  enemy,  he  was  ad- 
vised to  form  his  army  in  order  of  battle,  and 
to  let  those  on  foot  march  forward,  that  they 
might  not  be  trampled  on  by  the  horses. 
King  Philip  on  this  sent  off  four  knights  to 
discover  the  position  of  the  English  army, 
who  brought  back  the  news  that  it  was 
drawn  up  in  three  battalions  waiting  for  him. 
One  of  the  four  knights  was  the  Lord  Moyne, 
who  was  attached  to  the  King  of  Bohemia, 
and  had  performed  very  many  gallant  deeds, 
so  that  he  was  esteemed  one  of  the  most 
valiant  knights  in  Christendom. 

"Sir,"  said  this  Lord  Moyne,  "I  would 
advise  for  my  part  that  you  halt  your  army 
here,  and  quarter  them  for  the  night,  for 
before  the  rear  shall  come  up  and  the  army 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CRECY         41 

be  properly  drawn  out  it  will  be  very  late ; 
your  men  will  be  tired  and  in  disorder,  while 
they  will  find  your  enemies  fresh  and  properly 
arrayed." 

King  Philip  commanded  that  it  should  be 
so  done,  and  the  two  marshals  rode,  one 
towards  the  front  and  the  other  to  the  rear, 
crying  out,  "  Halt  banners,  in  the  name  of 
God  and  St.  Denis!" 

Those  that  were  in  the  front  halted,  but 
those  behind  said  they  would  not  halt,  until 
they  were  as  forward  as  the  front.  When 
the  front  perceived  the  rear  pressing  on,  they 
pushed  forward,  and  neither  the  King  nor 
the  marshals  could  stop  them,  but  they 
marched  on  without  any  order  till  they  came 
in  sight  of  their  enemies.  As  soon  as  the 
foremost  rank  saw  them,  they  fell  back  at  once 
in  great  disorder,  which  alarmed  those  in  the 
rear,  who  thought  they  had  been  fighting. 
There  was  then  space  enough  for  them  to 
have  passed  forward,  had  they  been  willing 
so  to  do ;  some  did  so,  but  others  remained 
shy.  All  the  roads  between  Abbeville  and 
Crecy  were  covered  with  common  people, 


42  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

who,  when  they  came  within  three  leagues  of 
their  enemies,  drew  their  swords,  brawling 
out,  "  Kill !  Kill ! "  and  with  them  were  many 
great  lords,  who  were  eager  to  make  show  of 
their  courage.  No  man,  unless  he  had  been 
present,  could  imagine  or  describe  truly  the 
confusion  of  that  day. 

The  English,  who  were  drawn  up  in  three 
divisions  and  seated  on  the  ground,  on  seeing 
their  enemies  advance,  rose  undauntedly  up 
and  fell  into  their  ranks.  That  of  the  young 
Prince  of  Wales  was  the  first  to  do  so. 

You  must  know  that  these  kings,  earls, 
barons,  and  lords  of  France  did  not  advance 
in  any  regular  order,  but  one  after  the  other, 
or  any  way  most  pleasing  to  themselves.  As 
soon  as  the  King  of  France  came  in  sight 
of  the  English,  his  blood  began  to  boil,  and 
he  called  out  to  his  marshals,  "Order  the 
Genoese  forward,  and  begin  the  battle,  in  the 
name  of  God  and  St.  Denis ! " 

There  were  about  fifteen  thousand  Genoese 
cross-bowmen,  but  they  were  quite  fatigued, 
having  marched  on  foot  that  day  six  leagues, 
completely  armed  and  with  their  cross-bows. 


THE  BATTLE  OF   CRECY         43 

They  told  the  Constable  they  were  not  in  a  fit 
condition  to  do  any  great  things  that  day 
in  battle.  The  Earl  of  Alencon  hearing  this, 
said,  "This  is  what  one  gets  by  employing 
such  scoundrels,  who  fall  off  when  there  is 
any  need  of  them." 

During  this  time  a  very  heavy  rain  fell, 
accompanied  by  thunder  and  a  very  terrible 
eclipse  of  the  sun;  and  before  this  rain  a 
great  flight  of  crows  hovered  in  the  air  over 
all  these  battalions,  making  a  loud  noise. 
Shortly  afterwards  it  cleared  up,  and  the  sun 
shone  very  bright ;  but  the  Frenchmen  had  it 
in  their  faces,  and  the  English  at  their  backs. 

When  the  Genoese  were  somewhat  in 
order,  and  approached  the  English,  they  set 
up  a  loud  shout,  in  order  to  frighten  them, 
but  the  English  remained  quite  still,  and 
did  not  seem  to  attend  to  it.  They  then  set 
up  a  second  shout,  and  advanced  a  little 
forward;  but  the  English  never  moved. 
They  hooted  a  third  time,  advancing  with 
their  cross-bows  presented,  and  began  to 
shoot.  The  English  archers  then  advanced 
one  step  forward,  and  shot  their  arrows 


44  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

with  such  force  and  quickness  that  it  seemed 
as  if  it  snowed.  When  the  Genoese  felt 
these  arrows  which  pierced  their  arms,  heads, 
and  through  their  armour,  some  of  them 
cut  the  strings  of  their  cross-bows,  others 
flung  them  on  the  ground,  and  all  turned 
about  and  retreated,  quite  discomfited. 

The  English  continued  shooting  as  vigor- 
ously and  quickly  as  before.  Some  of  their 
arrows  fell  among  the  horsemen,  who  were 
sumptuously  equipped,  and  killing  and  wound- 
ing many,  made  them  caper  and  fall  among 
the  Genoese,  so  that  they  were  in  such  con- 
fusion they  could  never  rally  again.  In  the 
English  army  there  were  some  Cornish  and 
Welshmen  on  foot,  who  had  armed  them- 
selves with  large  knives;  these  advancing 
through  the  ranks  of  men-at-arms  and 
archers,  came  upon  the  French  when  they 
were  in  this  danger,  and  falling  upon  earls, 
barons,  knights,  and  squires,  slew  many, 
at  which  the  King  of  England  was  after- 
wards much  exasperated.  The  valiant  King 
of  Bohemia  was  slain  there. 

"Gentlemen,"   said   this  King  to  his  at- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CRECY         45 

tendants  before  the  battle,  "you  are  all  my 
people,  my  friends,  and  my  brethren  at  arms 
this  day ;  therefore,  as  I  am  blind,  I  request 
you  to  lead  me  so  far  into  the  engagement 
that  I  may  strike  one  stroke  with  my  sword." 

The  knights  replied  they  would  at  once 
lead  him  forward,  and  in  order  that  they 
might  not  lose  him  in  the  crowd,  they  fast- 
ened all  the  reins  of  their  horses  together, 
and  put  the  King  at  their  head  that  he  might 
gratify  his  wish,  and  advanced  towards  the 
enemy.  The  King  of  Bohemia  and  his  com- 
panions fought  most  gallantly.  They  ad- 
vanced so  far  that  they  were  all  slain;  and 
on  the  morrow  they  were  found  on  the  ground, 
with  their  horses  all  tied  together. 

Early  in  the  day  some  French,  Germans, 
and  Savoyards  had  broken  through  the 
archers  of  the  young  Prince  of  Wales's 
battalion,  and  had  engaged  with  his  men- 
at-arms  ;  on  this,  the  second  battalion  came 
to  his  aid,  and  it  was  time,  for  otherwise 
he  would  have  been  hard  pressed.  The 
first  division,  seeing  the  danger  they  were 
in,  sent  a  knight  in  great  haste  to  the 


46  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

King  of  England,  who  was  posted  upon 
an  eminence  near  a  windmill. 

"Sir,"  said  the  knight  on  his  arrival, 
"the  Earl  of  Warwick,  the  Lord  Stafford, 
the  Lord  Reginald  Cobham,  and  the  others 
who  are  about  your  son,  are  hotly  attacked 
by  the  French,  and  they  entreat  that  you 
will  come  to  their  assistance  with  your 
battalion,  for  if  their  numbers  increase, 
they  fear  they  will  have  too  much  to  do." 

"Is  my  son  dead,  unhorsed,  or  so  badly 
wounded  that  he  cannot  support  himself?" 
replied  the  King. 

"Nothing  of  the  sort,  thank  God!"  re- 
joined the  knight,  "but  he  is  in  so  hot  an 
engagement  that  he  has  great  need  of  your 
help." 

"  Now,  Sir  Thomas,  return  back  to  those 
that  sent  you,"  said  the  King,  "and  tell 
them  from  me  not  to  send  again  for  me 
this  day,  or  expect  that  I  shall  come,  let 
what  will  happen,  so  long  as  my  son  has 
life,  and  say  that  I  command  them  to  let 
the  boy  win  his  spurs.  For  I  am  determined, 
if  it  please  God,  that  all  the  glory  and  honour 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CRECY         47 

of  this  day  shall  be  given  to  him,  and  to 
those  into  whose  care  I  have  entrusted  him." 

The  knight  returned  to  his  lords,  and 
related  the  King's  answer,  which  mightily 
encouraged  them,  and  made  them  repent 
they  had  ever  sent  such  a  message. 

Late  after  vespers  the  King  of  France  had 
not  more  about  him  than  sixty  men,  every 
one  included.  Sir  John  of  Hainault,  who  was 
of  the  number,  had  already  given  the  King 
a  fresh  horse,  for  his  first  had  been  killed 
under  him  by  an  arrow. 

"  Sir,"  he  said  to  the  King,  "  retreat  whilst 
you  have  an  opportunity,  and  do  not  expose 
yourself  so  boldly;  if  you  have  lost  this 
battle,  another  time  you  will  be  the  con- 
queror." After  this,  he  took  the  bridle  of 
the  King's  horse,  and  led  him  off  by  force, 
for  he  had  before  entreated  him  to  retire. 

King  Philip  rode  on  till  he  came  to  the 
Castle  of  La  Brozes,  where  he  found  the 
gates  shut,  for  it  was  very  dark.  The  King 
ordered  the  Governor  of  the  Castle  to  be  sum- 
moned. He  came  upon  the  battlements,  and 
asked  who  it  was  that  called  at  such  an  hour. 


48  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

"  Open,  open,  Governor ;  it  is  the  fortune  of 
France,"  replied  the  King1. 

The  Governor,  hearing  the  King's  voice, 
immediately  descended,  opened  the  gate,  and 
let  down  the  bridge,  and  the  King  and  his 
company  entered  the  Castle. 

Having  taken  some  refreshments,  King 
Philip  set  out  again  with  his  attendants 
about  midnight,  and  rode  on,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  guides  who  were  well  acquainted 
with  the  country,  until,  about  daybreak,  he 
came  to  Amiens,  where  he  halted. 

The  battle  of  Crecy  was  ended  at  the  hour 
of  vespers. 

When  on  this  Saturday  night  the  English 
heard  no  more  hooting  or  shouting,  they 
looked  upon  the  field  as  their  own,  and  their 
enemies  as  beaten.  They  made  great  fires 
and  lighted  torches,  because  of  the  darkness 
of  the  night. 

King  Edward  then  came  down  from  his 
post,  where  all  that  day  he  had  not  put 
on  his  helmet,  and  with  his  whole  battalion 
advanced  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  whom 
he  embraced  in  his  arms  and  kissed. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS  49 

"  Sweet  son,"  he  said,  "  God  give  you  good 
perseverance  !  You  are  my  son,  for  most 
loyally  have  you  acquitted  yourself  this  day ; 
you  are  worthy  to  be  a  sovereign." 

The  Prince  bowed  very  low,  and  humbled 
himself,  giving  all  honour  to  the  King  his 
father. 

The  English,  during  the  night,  made  fre- 
quent thanksgivings  to  the  Lord  for  the 
happy  issue  of  the  day,  and  without  rioting ; 
for  the  King  had  forbidden  all  riot  or  noise. 

The  Siege  of  Calais 

On  the  Thursday  after  the  great  battle  of 
Crecy,  King  Edward,  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
and  all  the  other  English  came  before  the 
strong  town  of  Calais. 

A  Burgundy  knight,  named  Sir  John  de 
Vienne,  was  Governor  of  Calais,  and  with 
him  were  many  other  knights  and  squires. 

On  the  King's  arrival  before  Calais  he  laid 
siege  to  it,  and  built,  between  it  and  the  river 
and  bridge,  houses  of  wood ;  they  were  laid 
out  in  streets,  and  thatched  with  straw  or 


50  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

broom ;  and  in  this  town  of  the  King's  there 
was  everything  necessary  for  an  army,  be- 
sides a  market-place  where  there  were  mar- 
kets every  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  for 
butcher's  meat  and  all  other  sorts  of  mer- 
chandise ;  cloth,  bread,  and  everything  else, 
which  came  from  England  and  Flanders, 
might  be  had  there,  as  well  as  all  comforts, 
for  money.  The  English  made  frequent 
expeditions  into  the  neighbouring  country, 
from  whence  they  brought  great  booty 
back  to  the  army. 

King  Edward  made  no  attacks  on  the 
town,  as  he  knew  it  would  be  only  lost  labour, 
and  he  was  sparing  of  his  men  and  artillery, 
but  he  said  he  would  remain  there  so  long 
that  he  would  starve  the  town  into  a  sur- 
render, unless  the  King  of  France  should 
come  there  to  raise  the  siege. 

When  the  Governor  of  Calais  saw  the  pre- 
parations of  the  King  of  England,  he  collected 
together  all  the  poor  inhabitants,  who  had 
not  laid  in  any  store  of  provisions,  and  one 
Wednesday  morning  sent  upwards  of  seven- 
teen hundred  men,  women,  and  children  out 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS          51 

of  the  town.  As  they  were  passing  through 
the  English  army,  they  asked  them  why  they 
had  left  the  town?  They  replied,  because 
they  had  nothing  to  eat.  The  King,  on  this, 
allowed  them  to  pass  through  in  safety, 
ordered  them  a  hearty  dinner,  and  gave  to 
each  two  pieces  of  money,  as  charity  and  alms 
for  which  many  of  them  prayed  earnestly 
for  the  King. 

While  King  Edward  was  absent  at  the 
war  in  France,  his  wife,  Queen  Philippa,  was 
undertaking  the  defence  of  his  own  realm 
against  the  Scotch,  who  had  seized  that 
opportunity  to  invade  it.  A  great  battle  was 
fought  at  Neville's  Cross,  three  miles  from 
Newcastle,  on  October  17, 1346.  The  English 
gained  the  field.  The  King  of  Scotland  was 
taken  prisoner,  fighting  most  gallantly.  After 
seeing  him,  with  other  prisoners,  placed  safely 
in  the  Tower  of  London,  Queen  Philippa  set 
out  for  Calais,  which  she  reached  about 
October  28.  The  King  on  her  arrival  held  a 
grand  court,  and  ordered  magnificent  enter- 
tainments for  all  the  lords  who  were  there, 
but  more  especially  for  the  ladies,  as  the 


52  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Queen  had  brought  a  great  many  with  her, 
who  were  glad  to  come,  in  order  to  see 
fathers,  brothers,  and  friends,  who  were  en- 
gaged at  the  siege. 

The  siege  of  Calais  lasted  a  long  time,  dur- 
ing which  many  gallant  deeds  of  arms  and 
adventures  happened.  There  were  frequent 
skirmishes  near  the  gates  and  ditches  of  the 
town  ;  sometimes  one  side  gained  the  advan- 
tage, sometimes  the  other.  However,  no 
provisions  could  be  brought  into  the  town 
except  by  stealth,  and  by  the  means  of  two 
mariners  who  were  guides  to  such  as  ven- 
tured ;  one  was  named  Marant,  the  other 
Mestriel ;  both  of  them  lived  in  Abbeville.  By 
their  means  food  was  frequently  brought  into 
Calais,  and  by  their  boldness  they  were  often 
in  great  danger,  many  times  pursued  and 
almost  captured,  but  they  escaped  and  slew 
and  wounded  many  of  the  English. 

The  siege  lasted  all  the  winter. 

King  Edward,  finding  he  could  not  con- 
quer Calais  but  by  famine,  ordered  a  large 
castle  to  be  constructed  of  strong  timbers, 
in  order  to  shut  the  communication  with 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS  53 

the  sea,  and  he  directed  it  to  be  built  and 
embattled  in  such  a  manner  that  it  could 
not  be  destroyed.  He  placed  it  between  the 
town  and  the  sea,  and  garrisoned  it  with 
forty  men-at-arms  and  two  hundred  archers. 
These  guarded  the  harbour  and  port  of 
Calais  so  closely  that  nothing  could  come 
out  or  go  into  the  town  without  being  sunk 
or  taken.  By  this  means  he  grieved  the 
people  of  Calais  more  sorely  than  by  any- 
thing he  had  hitherto  done,  and  soon  brought 
famine  among  them. 

About  Whitsuntide  the  King  of  France 
made  an  attempt  to  save  the  people  of 
Calais,  by  coming  with  a  large  army  to  try 
and  raise  the  siege.  But  he  found  the 
English  were  in  far  too  strong  a  position 
to  attack,  so  marched  away  again  without 
giving  battle. 

When  the  people  of  Calais  saw  the  French 
troops  depart,  it  gave  them  great  grief; 
they  saw  clearly  that  all  hope  of  succour 
was  at  end,  which  occasioned  them  so  much 
sorrow  and  distress  that  even  the  hardiest 
could  scarcely  support  it.  They  therefore 


54  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

most  earnestly  entreated  the  Lord  John 
de  Vienne,  their  Governor,  to  mount  upon 
the  battlements,  and  make  a  sign  that  he 
wished  to  hold  a  parley.  The  King  of 
England,  on  hearing  this,  sent  to  them  Sir 
Walter  Manny  and  Lord  Basset. 

When  they  were  come  near,  the  Lord 
de  Vienne  said  to  them : 

"  Dear  gentlemen,  you  who  are  very  valiant 
knights,  know  that  the  King  of  France, 
whose  subjects  we  are,  has  sent  us  hither 
to  defend  this  town  and  castle  from  all 
harm  and  damage;  this  we  have  done  to 
the  best  of  our  abilities.  All  hope  of  help 
has  now  left  us,  so  that  we  are  most  exceed- 
ingly straitened ;  and  if  the  gallant  King, 
your  lord,  have  not  pity  on  us,  we  must 
perish  with  hunger.  I  therefore  entreat 
that  you  will  beg  of  him  to  have  compas- 
sion on  us,  and  to  have  the  goodness  to 
allow  us  to  depart  in  the  state  we  are  in, 
and  that  he  will  be  satisfied  with  having 
possession  of  the  town  and  castle,  with 
all  that  is  within  them,  as  he  will  find 
therein  riches  enough  to  content  him." 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS  55 

To  this  Sir  Walter  Manny  replied : 
"John,  we  are  not  ignorant  of  what  the 
King  our  lord's  intentions  are,  for  he  has  told 
them  to  us.  Know  then,  it  is  not  his  pleasure 
you  should  get  off  so ;  for  he  is  resolved  you 
should  surrender  yourselves  solely  to  his 
will,  to  allow  those  whom  he  pleases  their 
ransom,  or  to  put  them  to  death;  for  the 
people  of  Calais  have  done  him  so  much 
mischief,  and  have  by  their  obstinate  defence 
cost  him  so  many  lives,  and  so  much  money, 
that  he  is  mightily  enraged." 

"These  conditions  are  too  hard  for  us," 
said  the  Lord  de  Vienne.  "We  are  but  a 
small  number  of  knights  and  squires,  who 
have  loyally  served  our  lord  and  master,  as 
you  would  have  done,  and  have  suffered 
much  ill  and  disquiet;  but  we  will  endure 
more  than  any  men  did  in  a  similar  situation 
before  we  consent  that  the  smallest  boy  in 
the  town  should  fare  worse  than  the  best.  I 
therefore  once  more  entreat  you  out  of  com- 
passion to  return  to  the  King  of  England, 
and  beg  of  him  to  have  pity  on  us ;  he  will, 
I  trust,  grant  you  this  favour,  for  I  have 


56  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

such   opinion   of  his  gallantry  as  to  hope, 
through  God's  mercy,  he  will  alter  his  mind." 

The  two  lords  returned  to  the  King  of 
England  and  related  what  had  passed.  The 
King  said  he  had  no  intention  of  complying 
with  the  request,  but  should  insist  that  they 
surrendered  themselves  unconditionally  to 
his  will. 

"My  lord,  you  may  be  to  blame  in  this," 
said  Sir  Walter  Manny,  "  as  you  will  set  us  a 
very  bad  example ;  for  if  you  order  us  to  go 
to  any  of  your  castles,  we  shall  not  obey  you 
so  cheerfully  if  you  put  these  people  to  death, 
for  they  will  retaliate  on  us  in  a  similar  case." 

"Gentlemen,  I  am  not  so  obstinate  as  to 
hold  my  opinion  alone  against  you  all,"  said 
the  King.  "Sir  Walter  Manny,  you  will 
inform  the  Governor  of  Calais  that  the  only 
grace  he  must  expect  from  me  is,  that  six  of 
the  principal  citizens  of  Calais  march  out  of 
the  town  with  bare  heads  and  feet,  with  ropes 
round  their  necks,  and  the  keys  of  the  towns 
and  castles  in  their  hands.  These  six 
persons  shall  be  at  my  absolute  disposal  and 
the  remainder  of  the  persons  pardoned." 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS          57 

Sir  Walter  returned  to  the  Lord  de  Vienne, 
who  was  waiting  for  him  on  the  battlements, 
and  told  him  all  he  had  been  able  to  gain 
from  the  King. 

"I  beg  of  you,"  said  the  Governor,  "that 
you  will  be  so  good  as  to  remain  here  for  a 
little,  while  I  go  and  relate  all  that  has  passed 
to  the  townsmen,  for  as  they  have  desired  me 
to  undertake  this,  it  is  proper  they  should 
know  the  result  of  it." 

He  went  to  the  market-place  and  caused 
the  bell  to  be  rung;  upon  which  all  the 
inhabitants,  men  and  women,  assembled  in 
the  Town  Hall.  He  then  related  to  them 
what  he  had  said,  and  the  answers  he  had 
received,  and  that  he  could  not  obtain  any 
conditions  more  favourable,  to  which  they 
must  give  a  short  and  immediate  answer. 

This  information  caused  the  greatest  lamen- 
tation and  despair,  so  that  the  hardest  heart 
would  have  had  compassion  on  them;  even 
the  Lord  de  Vienne  wept  bitterly. 

After  a  short  time  the  most  wealthy  citizen 
of  the  town,  by  name  Eustace  de  St.  Pierre, 
rose  up  and  said : 


58  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

"Gentlemen,  both  high  and  low,  it  would 
be  a  very  great  pity  to  suffer  so  many  people 
to  die  through  famine,  if  any  means  could 
be  found  to  prevent  it;  and  it  would  be 
highly  meritorious  in  the  eyes  of  our  Saviour 
if  such  misery  could  be  averted.  I  have 
such  faith  and  trust  in  finding  grace  before 
God,  if  I  die  to  save  my  townsmen,  that  I 
name  myself  as  first  of  the  six." 

When  Eustace  had  done  speaking,  they 
all  rose  up  and  almost  worshipped  him; 
many  cast  themselves  at  his  feet  with  tears 
and  groans.  Another  citizen,  very  rich  and 
respected,  rose  up  and  said  he  would  be 
the  second  to  his  companion,  Eustace;  his 
name  was  John  Daire.  After  him  James 
Wisant,  who  was  very  rich  in  merchandise 
and  lands,  offered  himself  as  companion  to 
his  two  cousins;  as  did  Peter  Wisant,  his 
brother.  Two  others  then  named  them- 
selves, which  completed  the  number  de- 
manded by  the  King  of  England. 

The  Lord  John  de  Vienne  then  mounted 
a  small  hackney,  for  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  he  could  walk,  and  conducted  them  to 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CALAIS  59 

the  gate,  attended  by  all  the  sorrowing 
townsfolk.  The  Governor  ordered  the  gate 
to  be  opened,  and  then  shut  behind  him 
and  the  six  citizens,  whom  he  led  to  the 
barriers. 

"I  deliver  up  to  you,  as  Governor  of 
Calais,  with  the  consent  of  the  inhabitants, 
these  six  citizens,"  he  said  to  Sir  Walter 
Manny,  who  was  there  waiting  for  him. 
"And  I  swear  to  you  they  were,  and  are 
at  this  day,  the  most  wealthy  and  respectable 
inhabitants  of  Calais.  I  beg  of  you,  gentle 
sir,  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  be- 
seech the  King  that  they  may  not  be  put 
to  death." 

"I  cannot  answer  for  what  the  King  will 
do  with  them,"  replied  Sir  Walter,  "  but  you 
may  depend  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to 
save  them." 

The  barriers  were  opened,  these  six  citizens 
advanced  to  the  pavilion  of  the  King,  and  the 
Lord  de  Vienne  re-entered  the  town. 

When  Sir  Walter  Manny  had  presented 
these  six  citizens  to  King  Edward,  they  fell 
on  their  'knees,  and  begged  him  to  have 


6o  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

mercy  and  compassion  on  them.  All  the 
barons,  knights,  and  squires,  that  were 
assembled  there  in  great  numbers,  wept  at 
the  sight.  The  King  eyed  them  with  angry 
looks  (for  he  hated  much  the  people  of 
Calais,  for  the  great  losses  he  had  formerly 
suffered  from  them  at  sea),  and  ordered  their 
heads  to  be  stricken  off.  All  present  en- 
treated the  King  that  he  would  be  more 
merciful  to  them,  but  he  would  not  listen  to 
them. 

"Ah,  gentle  King,  let  me  beseech  you  to 
restrain  your  anger,"  then  said  Sir  Walter 
Manny;  "you  have  the  reputation  of  great 
nobleness  of  soul,  do  not  therefore  tarnish 
it  by  such  an  act  as  this,  nor  allow  any  one 
to  speak  in  a  disgraceful  manner  of  you. 
In  this  instance  all  the  world  will  say  you 
acted  cruelly  if  you  put  to  death  six  such 
respected  persons,  who,  of  their  own  free 
will,  have  surrendered  themselves  to  your 
mercy  in  order  to  save  their  fellow-citizens." 

The  King's  only  reply  to  this  was,  "  Let 
it  be  so,"  and  ordered  the  headsman  to  be 
sent  for;  for  that  the  people  of  Calais  had 


THE  SIEGE   OF  CALAIS  6l 

done  him  so  much  damage,  it  was  proper 
they  should  suffer  for  it. 

Then  the  Queen  of  England  fell  on  her 
knees  before  the  King. 

"Ah,  gentle  sir,"  she  said  with  tears, 
"since  I  have  crossed  the  sea  with  great 
danger  to  see  you,  I  have  never  asked  you 
one  favour;  now  I  most  humbly  ask  as  a 
gift,  for  the  sake  of  our  Lord  Christ,  and 
for  your  love  to  nie,  that  you  will  be  merciful 
to  these  six  men." 

The  King  looked  at  her  for  some  time  in 
silence. 

"Ah,  lady,"  he  said  at  last,  "I  wish  you 
had  been  anywhere  else  than  here.  You 
have  entreated  in  such  a  manner  I  cannot 
refuse  you ;  I  therefore  give  them  to  you, 
to  do  as  you  please  with  them." 

The  Queen  led  the  six  citizens  to  her 
apartments,  and  had  the  halters  taken  from 
round  their  necks,  after  which  they  were 
newly  clothed,  and  served  with  a  plentiful 
dinner;  she  then  presented  each  with  six 
gold  nobles,  and  had  them  escorted  out  of 
the  camp  in  safety. 


62  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

The  siege  of  Calais  began  in  August 
1346,  and  the  town  surrendered  about  the 
end  of  August  1347. 

After  presenting  the  six  citizens  to  the 
Queen,  King  Edward  sent  Sir  Walter 
Manny  and  his  two  marshals,  the  Earls 
of  Warwick  and  Stafford,  to  take  possession 
of  the  town  and  castle.  All  the  inhabitants 
were  driven  out,  and  handsome  houses  were 
given  to  many  English  knights,  in  order  to 
induce  them  to  settle  there.  On  his  return 
to  England,  King  Edward  sent  over  thirty- 
six  substantial  citizens,  with  all  their  wealth, 
to  exert  all  their  influence  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  should 
henceforward  be  wholly  English. 

The  Battle  of  Poitiers 

In  August  1350,  King  Philip  of  France 
died,  and  on  the  26th  of  September  follow- 
ing, his  eldest  son,  John,  was  crowned  King. 

The  war  with  England  still  continued, 
and  in  1356  the  King  of  France,  who  was 
then  in  Paris,  heard  that  the  Prince  of  Wales, 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      63 

with  his  whole  army,  had  invaded  his  king- 
dom, and  was  fast  advancing  towards  the 
fertile  country  of  Berry.  When  this  was 
told  him,  King  John  said  he  would  at  once 
set  out  after  him,  and  give  him  battle  where- 
ever  he  should  find  him.  He  issued  a 
special  summons,  and  all  nobles  and  others 
who  held  fiefs  under  him,  that  they  should 
not  under  any  pretence  whatever  absent 
themselves,  without  incurring  his  highest 
displeasure,  but  immediately  set  out  to  meet 
him  on  the  borders  of  Touraine  and  Blois, 
for  he  was  determined  to  fight  the  English. 
Great  crowds  of  troops  and  men-at-arms 
came  to  him  from  all  parts  of  France. 

News  came  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  that 
the  King  of  France  was  in  the  city  of 
Chartres  with  a  very  large  army,  and  that 
all  passes  and  towns  on  that  side  of  the 
Loire  were  secured,  and  so  well  guarded,  that 
no  one  could  cross  the  river.  The  Prince  of 
Wales,  who  had  already  over-run  the  country 
of  Auvergne,  resolved  to  return  to  Bordeaux, 
through  Touraine  and  Poitou,  for  all  that 
district  is  very  rich  and  full  of  forage  for 


64  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

men-at-arms.  He  took  much  plunder  on 
the  way,  but  had  several  sharp  skirmishes 
with  the  enemy. 

When  the  King  of  France  heard  that  the 
Prince  of  Wales  was  making  as  much  haste 
as  possible  to  return,  he  thought  that  the 
English  could  not  in  any  way  escape  from 
him.  With  his  whole  army  he  marched  at 
once,  and  crossing  the  river  Vienne  at 
Chauvigny  came  the  next  day  to  the  city  of 
Poitiers,  where  he  encamped  in  the  open 
fields  outside  the  town. 

The  English  were  quartered  that  night  in 
a  very  strong  position,  among  vineyards  and 
hedges,  and  both  armies  were  well  guarded. 

About  this  time,  Pope  Innocent  VI.  had 
sent  into  France  two  cardinals,  to  try  to  make 
a  peace  between  the  King  of  France  and  his 
enemies.  The  Cardinal  of  Perigord  was  at 
the  city  of  Tours  when  he  was  told  that  the 
King  of  France  was  marching  in  all  haste  after 
the  English.  He  therefore  left  Tours  and 
hurried  to  Poitiers,  as  he  had  learned  that 
the  two  armies  were  approaching  near  to 
each  other  in  that  quarter. 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      65 

The  day  after  their  arrival  the  French  army 
were  drawn  up  in  full  battle  array,  and  were 
on  the  point  of  marching  to  their  enemies, 
when  the  Cardinal  of  Perigord  came  full  up 
to  King  John,  and  making  a  low  reverence, 
entreated  him,  for  the  love  of  God,  to  halt  a 
moment,  that  he  might  speak  to  him. 

"Most  dear  Sire,"  he  began,  "you  have 
here  all  the  flower  of  knighthood  of  your 
kingdom,  against  a  handful  of  people,  such 
as  the  English  are,  when  compared  with  your 
army.  You  may  have  them  on  other  terms 
than  by  a  battle,  and  it  will  be  more  honour 
and  profit  to  you  to  gain  them  by  this  means 
than  to  risk  such  a  fine  army,  and  such  noble 
persons  as  you  have  now  with  you.  I  there- 
fore beseech  you,  in  all  humility,  that  you  will 
permit  me  to  go  to  the  Prince  and  remon- 
strate with  him  on  the  dangerous  situation 
he  is  in." 

"  We  agree  willingly,"  said  the  King,  "  but 
make  haste  back  again." 

The  Cardinal  on  this  set  off,  and  went 
in  all  speed  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  whom 
he  found  on  foot  in  the  midst  of  his  army, 


66  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

in  the  thickest  part  of  a  vineyard.  When 
the  Cardinal  came  there,  he  dismounted 
and  advanced  to  the  Prince,  who  greeted 
him  most  courteously. 

"  Fair  son,"  said  the  Cardinal,  "  if  you  have 
well  considered  the  great  army  of  the  King 
of  France,  you  will  permit  me  to  make  up 
matters  between  you  both,  if  I  possibly  can." 

The  Prince,  who  was  but  in  his  youth, 
replied:  "Sir,  my  own  honour  and  that 
of  my  army  saved,  I  am  ready  to  listen  to 
any  reasonable  terms." 

"  Fair  son,  you  say  well,"  said  the  Cardinal, 
"and  I  will  bring  about  a  treaty,  if  I  can; 
for  it  would  be  a  great  pity  that  so  many 
worthy  persons  who  are  here  should  meet 
in  battle." 

The  Cardinal  returned  to  the  King  of 
France,  and  said : 

"Sir,  you  have  no  occasion  to  be  so  im- 
patient to  fight  with  them,  for  they  cannot 
escape  from  you;  I  therefore  entreat  you 
will  grant  them  a  truce  from  this  time  until 
to-morrow's  sunrise." 

King  John  at  first  would  not  agree  to  it; 


THE  BATTLE  OF  POITIERS      67 

however,  the  Cardinal  spoke  so  eloquently 
he  at  last  assented.  He  ordered  a  very 
rich  and  handsome  pavilion  of  red  silk  to  be 
pitched  on  the  spot  where  he  stood,  and 
dismissed  his  army  to  their  quarters. 

All  that  Sunday  the  Cardinal  rode  from 
one  army  to  another,  and  was  very  anxious 
to  reconcile  the  two  parties.  But  the  King 
of  France  would  not  listen  to  any  other 
terms  than  that  four  principal  persons  of 
the  English  should  be  given  up  to  his  will, 
and  that  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  his  army 
should  unconditionally  surrender  themselves. 
Many  proposals  were  made.  The  Prince 
offered  to  surrender  to  the  King  of  France 
all  the  towns  and  castles  he  had  conquered 
in  this  expedition;  to  give  up  without  ran- 
som all  his  prisoners,  and  to  swear  that 
he  would  not  for  seven  years  take  up  arms 
against  the  King  of  France.  King  John  and 
his  council  refused  to  accept  this,  and  the 
matter  remained  some  time  in  suspense; 
at  last  they  declared  that  if  the  Prince  of 
Wales  and  a  hundred  of  his  knights  did 
not  surrender  themselves  prisoners  to  the 


68  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

King  of  France,  he  would  not  allow  them 
to  pass  without  an  engagement.  The  Prince 
and  his  army  disdained  to  accept  such  con- 
ditions. 

The  Cardinal  de  Perigord,  not  being  able 
by  any  means  to  reconcile  the  King  of  France 
and  the  Prince  of  Wales,  returned  to  Poitiers 
late  in  the  evening.  The  French  had  kept 
in  their  quarters  all  that  day,  where  they 
lived  at  their  ease,  having  plenty  of  pro- 
visions. The  English,  on  the  other  hand, 
were  but  badly  off,  nor  did  they  know  where 
to  go  for  forage,  for  they  were  so  hemmed 
in  by  the  French  they  could  not  move  with- 
out danger. 

On  Monday  morning  the  Prince  and  his 
army  were  soon  in  readiness,  and  as  well 
arrayed  as  on  the  former  day.  They  were  few 
in  number,  but  posted  with  great  judgment  in 
a  very  strong  position,  the  only  road  open 
to  an  attack  being  a  lane  so  narrow  that 
scarcely  four  men  could  ride  through  it 
abreast.  There  was  only  one  entry,  and  the 
hedges  at  the  sides  had  been  fortified  and 
lined  with  some  of  the  archers.  At  the  end 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      69 

of  this  lane,  amongst  vines  and  thorns,  where 
it  was  impossible  to  ride  or  march  in  any 
regular  order,  were  posted  the  men-at-arms 
on  foot,  and  before  them  were  drawn  up  the 
archers,  in  the  form  of  a  harrow,  so  that  it 
would  be  no  easy  matter  to  defeat  them. 

The  Prince  had  ordered  some  valiant  and 
intelligent  knights  to  remain  on  horseback, 
and  he  also  commanded  three  hundred  men- 
at-arms,  and  as  many  archers  on  horseback, 
to  post  themselves  on  the  right  on  the  small 
hill,  that  was  not  too  high  nor  too  steep,  and 
by  passing  over  its  summit  to  get  round  the 
wing  of  the  Duke  of  Normandy's  battalion, 
which  was  at  the  foot.  The  Prince  himself 
was  with  the  main  body,  in  the  midst  of  the 
vineyards ;  the  whole  completely  armed,  with 
their  horses  near,  if  there  should  be  occasion 
for  them.  They  had  fortified  and  enclosed 
the  weaker  parts  with  their  waggons  and 
baggage. 

The  whole  army  of  the  Prince,  including 
every  one,  did  not  amount  to  eight  thou- 
sand; while  the  French,  counting  all  sorts 
of  persons,  were  upwards  of  sixty  thousand 


70  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

combatants,  among  whom  were  more  than 
three  thousand  knights. 

When  the  Prince  of  Wales  saw,  from  the 
departure  of  the  Cardinal  without  being  able 
to  obtain  honourable  terms,  that  a  battle  was 
inevitable,  and  that  the  King  of  France  held 
both  him  and  his  army  in  great  contempt,  he 
thus  addressed  himself  to  them : 

"Now,  sirs,  though  we  be  but  a  small 
company  compared  to  the  might  of  our 
enemies,  let  us  not  be  cast  down  on  that 
account,  for  victory  does  not  lie  in  the  multi- 
tude of  people,  but  where  it  pleases  God  to 
send  it.  If  it  fortune  that  the  day  be  ours, 
we  shall  be  the  most  honoured  people  of  all 
the  world;  and  if  we  die  in  our  rightful 
quarrel,  I  have  the  King,  my  father,  and  my 
brothers,  and  ye,  also,  have  good  friends  and 
kinsmen ;  these  shall  revenge  us.  Therefore, 
sirs,  I  require  you  do  your  duty  this  day,  for, 
if  please  God  and  St.  George,  this  day  ye 
shall  see  me  a  good  knight." 

By  such  words  as  these  the  Prince  spoke 
to  his  men,  as  did  the  marshals,  by  his 
orders ;  so  that  they  were  all  in  high  spirits. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  POITIERS      71 

Sir  John  Chandos  placed  himself  near  the 
Prince,  to  guard  and  advise  him ;  and  never 
during  that  day  would  he  on  any  account 
leave  his  post. 

The  Lord  James  Audley  remained  also 
for  some  time  near  him,  but  when  he  saw 
they  must  certainly  fight,  he  said  to  the 
Prince : 

"Sir,  I  have  ever  served  most  loyally  my 
lord  your  father  and  yourself,  and  shall  con- 
tinue to  do  so  as  long  as  I  have  life.  Dear 
sir,  I  must  now  acquaint  you  that  formerly  I 
made  a  vow,  if  ever  I  should  be  engaged  in 
any  battle  where  the  King,  your  father,  or 
any  of  his  sons  were,  that  I  would  be  the 
foremost  in  the  attack,  and  the  best  com- 
batant on  his  side,  or  die  in  the  attempt.  I 
beg  therefore  most  earnestly  as  a  reward 
for  any  services  I  may  have  done,  that  you 
would  grant  me  permission  honourably  to 
leave  you  that  I  may  post  myself  in  such 
wise  to  accomplish  my  vow." 

The  Prince  granted  this  request. 

"  Sir  James,"  he  said,  holding  out  his 
hand  to  him,  "  God  grant  that  this  day 


^2  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

you  may  shine  in  valour  above  all  other 
knights." 

The  knight  then  set  off  and  posted  him- 
self in  front  of  the  battalion,  with  only  four 
squires,  whom  he  kept  with  him  to  guard 
his  person.  This  Lord  James  was  a  prudent 
and  valiant  knight,  and  it  was  by  his  advice 
that  the  army  had  thus  been  drawn  up 
in  order  of  battle. 

Another  gallant  knight,  Sir  Eustace  d'Am- 
breticourt,  in  like  manner  took  great  pains 
to  be  the  first  to  engage,  and  was  so,  or  near 
it.  Placing  his  lance  in  rest,  and  fixing  his 
shield,  he  galloped  up  to  a  battalion  of 
Germans,  who  were  attached  to  the  French 
interest,  under  the  command  of  the  Earl 
John  of  Nassau.  A  German  knight,  called 
Lord  Lewis  de  Concibras,  seeing  Sir  Eustace 
approach,  made  up  to  him;  the  shock  of 
their  meeting  was  so  violent  that  both  fell 
to  the  ground.  Sir  Eustace  rose  nimbly, 
and  was  hastening  to  the  German  knight, 
who  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  when 
five  German  men-at-arms  came  upon  him, 
struck  him  down,  and  made  him  prisoner. 


TlIKY    TIKI)    HIM    TO    A    CART. 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      73 

They  led  him  to  those  who  were  attached 
to  the  Earl  of  Nassau,  who  did  not  pay  much 
attention  to  Sir  Eustace,  but  tied  him  to 
a  cart  with  some  of  their  harness. 

The  engagement  now  began  on  both  sides. 
The  battalion  of  the  French  marshals,  three 
hundred  of  the  most  expert  and  boldest  in  the 
army,  well  armed  and  excellently  mounted, 
entered  the  lane  where  the  hedges  on  both 
sides  were  lined  with  archers,  for  it  had 
been  arranged  that  they  should  clear  a  way 
for  the  men-at-arms  to  attack  hand  to  hand. 
But  their  horses,  smarting  under  the  pain  of 
the  arrows,  would  not  advance,  but  turned 
about,  and  by  their  unruliness  threw  their 
masters,  who  could  not  manage  them,  nor 
could  those  that  had  fallen  get  up  again, 
because  of  the  confusion;  so  this  battalion 
of  the  marshals  never  approached  the  Prince 
of  Wales.  In  a  short  time  it  was  totally 
discomfited,  for  the  riders  fell  back  so  much 
on  each  other  that  the  army  could  not  ad- 
vance, and  those  who  were  in  the  rear,  not 
being  able  to  get  forward,  fell  back  upon 
the  battalion  commanded  by  the  Duke  of 


74  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Normandy,  which  was  soon  thin  enough,  for 
when  they  learned  that  the  marshals  had 
been  defeated,  they  mounted  their  horses 
and  set  off.  The  English  archers  were  of 
infinite  service  to  their  army,  for  they  shot 
so  thickly  and  so  well  that  the  French  did 
not  know  which  way  to  turn  to  avoid  their 
arrows;  by  this  means  they  kept  advancing 
little  by  little  and  gained  ground. 

When  the  English  men-at-arms  saw  that 
the  first  battalion  was  beaten,  and  that  the 
one  under  the  Duke  of  Normandy  was  in 
disorder,  they  hastened  to  mount  their  horses, 
which  they  had  ready  prepared  close  at 
hand.  As  soon  as  they  were  mounted  they 
gave  a  shout  of  "  St.  George  for  Guienne ! " 
and  Sir  John  Chandos  said  to  the  Prince, 
"Sir,  sir,  now  push  forward,  for  the  day  is 
ours.  God  will  this  day  put  it  in  your  hand. 
Let  us  make  for  our  adversary,  the  King  of 
France,  for  where  he  is  will  lie  the  chief  stress 
of  battle.  I  well  know  that  his  valour  will 
not  let  him  fly,  and  he  will  remain  with  us 
if  it  please  God  and  St.  George!  But  he 
must  be  well  fought  with,  and  you  have 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      75 

before  said  that  you  would  show  yourself  this 
day  a  good  knight." 

"John,  get  forward!"  replied  the  Prince. 
"  You  shall  not  see  me  turn  my  back  this  day, 
but  I  will  always  be  among  the  foremost." 
Then  to  his  banner-bearer,  Sir  Walter  Wood- 
land, he  said :  "  Banner  advance,  in  the  name 
of  God  and  St.  George ! " 

As  the  Prince  of  Wales  fought  his  way 
in  search  of  the  King  of  France,  he  met 
the  battalion  of  Germans  under  the  Earl  of 
Nassau,  who  had  taken  prisoner  Sir  Eustace 
d'Ambreticourt.  They  were  soon  overthrown 
and  put  to  flight.  In  the  confusion  Sir 
Eustace  was  rescued  by  his  own  men,  who 
gave  him  a  horse;  he  afterwards  performed 
many  gallant  deeds  of  arms,  and  made  good 
captures  that  day. 

The  King's  battalion  advanced  in  good  order 
to  meet  the  English ;  many  hard  blows  were 
given  with  swords,  battle-axes,  and  other 
warlike  weapons.  King  John,  on  his  part, 
proved  himself  a  good  knight,  and  if  the 
fourth  of  his  people  had  behaved  as  well, 
the  day  would  have  been  his  own.  Those, 


76  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

however,  who  had  remained  with  him  ac- 
quitted themselves  to  the  best  of  their  power, 
and  were  either  slain  or  taken  prisoners. 
Scarcely  any  who  were  with  the  King  at- 
tempted to  escape.  Many  gallant  deeds  of 
arms  were  done  that  were  never  known, 
and  the  combatants  on  each  side  suffered 
much.  King  John  himself  did  wonders, 
but  in  the  end  was  forced  to  surrender. 

He  was  conducted  by  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick and  the  Lord  Cobham  with  the 
greatest  courtesy  to  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
who  that  night  gave  a  supper  in  his  pavilion 
to  the  King  of  France,  and  the  greater 
number  of  his  princes  and  barons  who  had 
been  taken  prisoners. 

The  Prince  seated  the  King  of  France 
and  his  young  son,  the  Lord  Philip,  at  a  raised 
and  well-covered  table,  with  some  of  the 
chief  French  nobles.  The  other  knights 
and  squires  were  placed  at  different  tables. 
The  Prince  himself  served  the  King's  table, 
as  well  as  the  others,  with  every  mark  of 
humility,  and  would  not  sit  down  at  it,  in 
spite  of  all  his  entreaties  for  him  to  do  so, 


THE   BATTLE  OF   POITIERS      77 

saying  that  he  "  was  not  worthy  of  such  an 
honour,  nor  did  it  beseem  him  to  sit  at  the 
table  of  so  great  a  King,  or  of  so  valiant 
a  man  as  he  had  shown  himself  by  his  actions 
that  day."  He  added  also  with  a  noble  air : 
"  Dear  sir,  do  not  make  a  poor  meal  because 
the  Almighty  God  has  not  gratified  your 
wishes  in  the  event  of  this  day;  for  be  as- 
sured that  my  lord  and  father  will  show 
you  every  honour  and  friendship  in  his  power, 
and  will  arrange  your  ransom  so  reasonably 
that  you  will  henceforward  always  remain 
friends.  In  my  opinion  you  have  cause  to 
be  glad  that  the  success  of  this  battle  did 
not  turn  out  as  you  desired ;  for  you  have 
this  day  acquired  such  high  renown  for 
prowess,  that  you  have  surpassed  all  the 
best  knights  on  your  side.  I  do  not,  dear 
sir,  say  this  to  flatter  you,  for  all  those  of 
our  side  who  have  seen  and  observed  the 
deeds  of  each  party,  have  allowed  this  to 
be  your  due,  and  decree  you  the  prize  and 
garland  for  it." 

At   the    end    of  this   speech   there   were 
murmurs  of  praise  heard  from  every  one; 


78  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

and  the  French  said  the  Prince  had  spoken 
nobly  and  truly,  and  that  he  would  be  one 
of  the  most  gallant  princes  in  Christendom, 
if  God  should  grant  him  life  to  pursue  his 
career  of  glory. 

The  Battle  of  Poitiers  was  fought  on  the 
igth  of  September  1356. 


How  a  Servant   saved  his  Master 

AMONG  the  possessions  held  by  the  English 
in  France  in  the  year  1383  was  the  famous 
town  and  castle  of  Lourdes,  which  is  near 
the  borders  of  Spain.  The  country  round 
was  the  scene  of  some  of  the  fiercest  fighting 
recorded  in  the  war,  although  the  powerful 
lord  of  the  territory  of  Be"arn,  the  great  Count 
Gaston  de  Foix,  would  not  take  part  with 
either  side,  and  was  on  good  terms  with  both 
the  King  of  France  and  the  King  of  England, 
neither  of  whom  was  he  willing  to  anger. 

The  English  garrison  at  Lourdes  made 
frequent  excursions  at  a  distance  from  their 
fort,  in  which  they  did  not  always  have  the 
advantage,  for  the  neighbouring  towns  and 
castles  were  also  well  garrisoned  and  full  of 
French  troops.  When  they  heard  that  those 
of  Lourdes  had  made  any  excursion  towards 
Toulouse  or  Carcassone,  they  collected  them- 

79 


8o  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

selves  to  form  an  ambuscade  and  carry  off 
what  pillage  the  English  had  gained ;  some- 
times several  on  each  side  were  killed,  at 
others  those  of  Lourdes  passed  unmolested. 

It  happened  once  that  a  knight  of  Lourdes, 
called  Ernauton  de  Sainte  Columbe,  set  off 
with  another  knight  and  six  score  lances, 
good  men-at-arms,  and  advanced  round  the 
mountains  between  the  two  rivers  Lesse  and 
Lisse  as  far  as  Toulouse.  On  their  return 
they  found  in  the  meadows  great  quantities 
of  cattle,  pigs,  and  sheep,  which  they  seized, 
as  well  as  some  prosperous  men  from  the  flat 
countries,  and  drove  them  all  before  them. 

It  was  told  to  the  Governor  of  Tarbes,  a 
squire  of  Gascony,  how  those  of  Lourdes 
were  overrunning  and  harassing  the  country, 
and  he  sent  information  of  this  to  various 
French  leaders,  adding  he  was  determined 
to  attack  them.  These  knights  and  squires 
of  Bigorre,  having  agreed  to  join  him,  as- 
sembled their  men  in  the  town  of  Tournay, 
through  which  the  garrison  from  Lourdes 
generally  returned.  They  were  altogether 
about  two  hundred  lances.  Both  parties 


A  SERVANT  AND  HIS  MASTER    81 

sent  out  spies  to  discover  the  strength  of 
their  opponents,  and  were  so  active  that 
each  knew  the  force  of  the  other. 

When  those  of  Lourdes  heard  that  the 
French  garrison  were  waiting  for  them  at 
Tournay,  they  began  to  be  alarmed,  and 
called  a  council  to  determine  how  to  conduct 
their  pillage  in  safety.  It  was  resolved  to 
divide  themselves  into  two  parties  :  one,  con- 
sisting of  servants  and  pillagers,  was  to  drive 
the  booty,  and  take  by-roads;  the  other 
division  was  to  march  in  order  of  battle,  and 
try  to  draw  off  the  attention  of  the  enemy, 
so  that  the  baggage  might  cross  the  river  in 
safety  at  another  point.  They  were  to  meet 
all  together  at  a  place  called  Montgaillard, 
from  whence  they  would  soon  be  at  Lourdes. 
This  plan  they  carried  out. 

There  remained  with  the  principal  division 
Ernauton  de  Sainte  Colombe  and  full  eighty 
companions,  all  men-at-arms ;  there  were  not 
ten  varlets  among  them.  They  tightened 
their  armour,  fixed  their  helmets,  and,  grasp- 
ing their  lances,  marched  in  close  order,  as 
if  they  were  instantly  to  engage ;  they  indeed 


82  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

expected  nothing  else,  for  they  knew  their 
enemies  were  in  the  field. 

The  French,  in  like  manner  as  those  of 
Lourdes,  had  called  a  council  respecting  their 
mode  of  acting.  "  Since  we  know  the  men 
of  Lourdes  are  bringing  home  great  plunder 
and  many  provisions,"  they  said,  "we  shall 
be  much  vexed  if  they  escape  us.  Let  us 
therefore  form  two  ambuscades,  for  we  are 
enough  for  both."  It  was  ordered  therefore 
that  the  Count  d'Espaign  with  a  hundred 
spears  should  guard  the  passage  of  Tournay, 
for  the  cattle  and  prisoners  must  necessarily 
cross  the  river,  while  another  detachment 
of  a  hundred  lances  should  reconnoitre,  if 
perchance  they  could  come  up  with  them. 

They  accordingly  separated,  one  troop 
posting  themselves  to  guard  the  river,  the 
other  riding  to  a  spot  called  the  Larre, 
where  they  met  the  English.  Both  parties  in- 
stantly dismounted,  and,  leaving  their  horses 
to  pasture,  advanced  with  pointed  lances, 
shouting  their  battle-cries,  "  St.  George  for 
Lourdes ! "  "  Our  Lady  for  Bigorre ! " 

They  charged  each  other,  thrusting  their 


A  SERVANT  AND  HIS  MASTER    83 

spears  with  all  their  strength.  The  combat 
was  very  equal,  and  for  some  time  none  were 
struck  down.  When  they  had  sufficiently 
used  their  spears  they  threw  them  down  and 
began  to  deal  out  terrible  blows  with  battle- 
axes.  The  fight  lasted  three  hours,  and  it 
was  marvellous  to  see  how  they  fought  and 
defended  themselves.  When  any  were  so 
worsted  or  out  of  breath  that  they  could  no 
longer  support  the  fight,  they  seated  them- 
selves near  a  large  ditch  full  of  water  in  the 
middle  of  the  plain,  when,  having  taken  off 
their  helmets,  they  refreshed  themselves; 
this  done,  they  replaced  their  helmets  and 
returned  to  the  combat.  There  was  not  so 
well  fought  or  so  severe  a  battle  as  this  of 
Marteras  in  Bigorre  since  the  famous  conflict 
of  thirty  English  against  thirty  French 
knights  in  Brittany  in  the  year  1351. 

They  fought  hand  to  hand,  and  Ernauton 
de  Sainte  Colombe,  an  excellent  man-at-arms, 
was  on  the  point  of  being  killed  by  a  squire 
of  the  country,  called  Guillonet  de  Salenges, 
when  he  escaped  in  rather  a  strange  manner. 
Ernauton  de  Sainte  Colombe  had  a  servant 


84  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

who  was  looking  on  at  the  battle,  neither 
attacking  nor  attacked  by  any  one;  but 
seeing  his  master  pressed  so  hard  by  Guillonet 
that  he  was  quite  out  of  breath,  he  ran  to 
him,  and  wresting  the  battle-axe  from  his 
hands,  cried  "  Ernauton,  go  and  sit  down ! 
Recover  yourself;  you  cannot  longer  continue 
the  battle!"  With  the  battle-axe  he  ad- 
vanced on  the  squire,  and  gave  him  such  a 
blow  on  the  helmet  as  made  him  almost 
stagger  and  fall  down. 

Guillonet,  smarting  from  the  blow,  was 
very  wroth,  and  made  for  the  servant  to 
strike  him  with  his  axe  on  the  head ;  but  the 
varlet  avoided  it,  and  grappling  with  the 
squire,  who  was  much  fatigued,  turned  him 
round,  and  flung  him  to  the  ground  under 
him,  crying:  "I  will  put  you  to  death,  if  you 
do  not  surrender  yourself  to  my  master." 

"  And  who  is  thy  master  ?  " 

"  Ernauton  de  Sainte  Colombe,  with  whom 
you  have  been  so  long  engaged." 

The  squire,  rinding  he  had  not  the  advan- 
tage, being  under  the  servant,  who  had  his 
dagger  ready  to  strike,  surrendered  on  con- 


"  Grappling  with  the  squire,  flung  him  to  the  ground." 


Page  84 


A  SERVANT  AND  HIS  MASTER    87 

dition  to  deliver  himself  prisoner  within 
fifteen  days  at  the  castle  of  Lourdes,  whether 
rescued  or  not.  Of  such  service  was  this 
servant  to  his  master. 

Many  gallant  feats  of  arms  were  that 
day  performed,  and  many  companions  were 
sworn  to  surrender  themselves  at  Tarbes 
and  at  Lourdes.  In  order  that  the  memory 
of  this  battle  should  be  preserved,  a  cross 
of  stone  was  erected  on  the  spot  where  two 
opposing  knights  of  great  valour  fought  and 
died,  thus  putting  an  end  to  the  combat,  for 
all  their  comrades  were  so  worn  out  they 
could  no  longer  wield  their  weapons. 

In  the  meanwhile  those  from  Lourdes 
who  were  conducting  the  pillage,  when 
they  came  to  the  Bridge  of  Tournay,  below 
Malvoisin,  where  they  intended  to  cross, 
found  the  Count  d'Espaign  in  ambuscade, 
who  on  their  arrival  sallied  out  on  them. 
The  English  could  not  retreat,  and  were 
obliged  to  abide  the  event.  The  combat 
was  as  severe  and  long,  if  not  longer,  than 
that  at  Marteras.  The  Count  d'Espaign 
performed  wonders ;  he  was  well  formed 


88  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

for  fighting,  being  largely  sized  and  very 
strongly  made.  With  his  own  hand  he  took 
four  prisoners.  In  short,  the  pillage  was 
rescued  from  the  people  of  Lourdes,  and  all 
who  conducted  it  slain  or  made  prisoners; 
for  not  three  escaped,  excepting  varlets,  who 
ran  away  and  crossed  the  river  Lesse  by 
swimming.  Thus  ended  this  business,  and 
the  garrison  of  Lourdes  never  had  such  a 
loss  as  it  suffered  that  day. 

The  prisoners  were  courteously  ransomed 
or  mutually  exchanged ;  for  those  on  both 
sides  who  had  been  engaged  in  this  combat 
had  made  several  prisoners,  so  that  it  be- 
hoved them  to  treat  each  other  handsomely. 

The  Count  d'Espaign,  spoken  of  above, 
had  no  equal  in  Gascony  for  vigour  of  body, 
and  for  this  he  was  esteemed  as  a  brother 
in  arms  by  the  great  Count  Gascon  de  Foix. 
There  is  a  wonderful  feat  of  strength  related 
of  him. 

One  Christmas  Day  when  the  Count  de 
Foix  was  celebrating  the  feast  with  numbers 
of  knights  and  squires,  as  is  customary,  the 
weather  was  piercingly  cold,  and  the  Count 


A  SERVANT  AND  HIS  MASTER    89 

had  dined,  with  many  lords,  in  the  hall. 
After  dinner  he  rose  and  went  into  a  gallery, 
which  had  a  large  staircase  of  twenty-four 
steps ;  in  this  gallery  was  a  chimney  where 
a  fire  was  kept  when  the  Count  inhabited 
it,  but  not  otherwise ;  and  the  fire  was  never 
great,  for  he  did  not  like  it;  it  was  not  for 
want  of  blocks  of  wood,  for  Beam  was 
covered  with  wood  in  plenty  to  warm  him 
if  he  had  chosen  it,  but  he  had  accustomed 
himself  to  a  small  fire.  On  this  occasion, 
when  reaching  the  gallery,  the  Count  de 
Foix  thought  the  fire  too  small,  for  the 
weather  was  freezing. 

"  Here  is  but  a  small  fire  for  this  weather," 
he  said  to  the  knights  around  him. 

The  Count  d'Espaign  instantly  ran  down- 
stairs, for  from  the  windows  of  the  gallery, 
which  looked  into  the  court,  he  had  seen 
a  number  of  asses  laden  with  billets  of  wood 
for  the  use  of  the  house.  Seizing  the  largest 
of  these  asses  with  his  load,  he  threw  him 
over  his  shoulders,  and  carried  him  upstairs, 
pushing  through  the  crowds  of  knights  and 
squires  who  were  around  the  chimney,  and 


po  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

flung  ass  and  load  down  on  the  hearth! 
All  who  saw  were  delighted  and  astonished 
at  the  strength  of  the  knight,  who  had 
carried  with  such  ease  so  great  a  load  up 
so  many  steps. 


The  Sad  Story  of  the  Count  de  Foix's 
only  Son 

AMONG  all  the  kings,  princes,  and  nobles 
living  at  that  time,  there  were  none  to 
surpass  in  beauty,  valour,  and  loftiness  of 
character  the  great  Count  Gaston  Phoebus 
de  Foix.  He  was  so  perfect  in  form  and 
feature  that  one  could  not  praise  him  too 
highly.  He  loved  earnestly  the  things  he 
ought  to  love,  and  hated  those  it  was  right 
to  hate.  He  was  a  prudent  knight,  full  of 
enterprise  and  wisdom,  and  he  was  also 
most  devout  and  charitable.  Every  day  alms 
were  distributed  at  his  gates.  He  was 
liberal  and  courteous  in  his  gifts,  and  well 
knew  how  to  take  when  it  was  proper,  and 
to  give  back  where  he  had  confidence.  He 
never  liked  any  foolish  works  nor  ridiculous 
extravagance,  and  knew  each  month  the 
amount  of  his  expenditure.  In  his  apart- 

9* 


92  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

ments  were  certain  coffers  from  which  he 
took  money  to  give  to  knights,  squires,  or 
gentlemen  when  they  came  to  wait  on  him, 
for  none  ever  left  him  without  a  gift. 

It  was  a  custom  of  the  Count,  which  he 
had  followed  from  infancy,  to  rise  at  noon 
and  sup  at  midnight.  When  he  left  his 
chamber  at  midnight  for  supper,  twelve 
servants  bore  each  a  lighted  torch  before 
him,  which  were  placed  near  his  table,  and 
gave  a  brilliant  light  to  the  room.  The  hall 
was  full  of  knights  and  squires,  and  there 
were  plenty  of  tables  laid  out  for  any  person 
who  chose  to  sup.  No  one  spoke  to  him  at 
his  table,  unless  he  first  began  a  conversa- 
tion. He  had  great  pleasure  in  hearing 
minstrels,  as  he  himself  was  well  skilled  in 
music,  and  he  made  his  secretaries  sing 
songs,  ballads,  and  roundelays. 

Those  who  had  lived  much  at  the  courts 
of  other  kings,  princes,  dukes,  and  noble 
ladies,  found  none  that  pleased  them  more 
than  this  of  the  Count  de  Foix  at  Orthes. 
There  were  knights  and  squires  to  be  seen 
in  every  chamber,  hall,  and  court,  going 


COUNT  DE  FOIX'S  ONLY  SON    93 

backwards  and  forwards,  and  conversing  on 
arms  or  lovely  ladies.  Everything  honour- 
able was  there  to  be  found.  All  intelligence 
from  distant  countries  was  there  to  be 
learned,  for  the  gallantry  of  the  Count  had 
brought  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all  this  glory  and 
splendour,  the  great  Count  Gaston  de  Foix 
had  one  abiding  grief;  his  only  son  had 
perished  by  a  tragic  death,  and  it  was  the 
father's  hand  that  caused  it. 

For  many  years  before,  the  Count  and 
Countess  de  Foix  had  not  been  on  good 
terms ;  the  dissension  arose  from  the  King 
of  Navarre,  who  was  the  lady's  brother.  The 
King  of  Navarre  had  offered  to  pledge  him- 
self, to  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  francs, 
for  the  Lord  d'Albreth,  whom  the  Count  de 
Foix  held  prisoner.  The  Count  de  Foix, 
knowing  the  King  of  Navarre  to  be  crafty 
and  faithless,  would  not  accept  his  security, 
which  piqued  the  Countess,  and  made  her 
indignant  with  her  husband. 

"  My  Lord,  you  show  but  little  confidence 
in  the  honour  of  my  brother,  the  King  of 


94  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Navarre,  when  you  will  not  trust  him  for  fifty 
thousand  francs,"  she  said.  "  You  know  you 
are  to  assign  over  my  dower,  which  amounts 
to  fifty  thousand  francs,  into  the  hands  of 
my  brother;  therefore  you  cannot  run  any 
risk  for  the  repayment." 

Out  of  affection  for  his  son  Gaston,  the 
Count  finally  consented  to  his  wife's  entreaties, 
and  set  the  Lord  d'Albreth  at  liberty,  on  the 
assurance  of  the  King  of  Navarre  that  he 
would  be  guarantee  for  the  sum  demanded 
for  his  ransom.  The  Lord  d'Albreth  in  due 
course  paid  over  to  the  King  of  Navarre  the 
fifty  thousand  francs  as  agreed ;  but  the 
King  of  Navarre  never  paid  them  to  the 
Count  de  Foix. 

The  Count  on  this  bade  his  wife  go  to  her 
brother  in  Navarre  and  tell  him  he  was  very 
ill-satisfied  with  him  for  withholding  the  sum 
he  had  received.  The  lady  went  cheerfully, 
and  her  brother,  the  King  of  Navarre, 
received  her  with  much  joy,  but  absolutely 
refused  to  hand  over  any  of  the  money.  He 
declared  that  it  belonged  to  herself,  as  her 
dower  from  the  Count  de  Foix,  and  that  as 


V 


"  My  lord,  you  show  but  little  confidence  in  the  honour  of 
my  brother,  the  King  of  Navarre." 

Page  93 


COUNT  DE   FOIX'S  ONLY  SON    97 

long  as  he  had  possession  of  it,  it  should 
never  leave  the  kingdom  of  Navarre. 

The  Countess  de  Foix,  not  being  able  to 
obtain  any  other  answer,  remained  in  Navarre, 
not  daring  to  return  home.  The  Count  de 
Foix,  perceiving  the  malice  of  the  King  of 
Navarre,  began  to  be  enraged  with  his  wife 
for  not  returning  after  she  had  delivered  his 
message,  though  she  was  in  no  way  to  blame. 
In  truth,  she  was  afraid,  for  she  knew  her 
husband  to  be  a  cruel  man  when  he  was  dis- 
pleased with  any  one.  He  had  a  very  violent 
temper,  and  in  his  fits  of  fury  he  sometimes 
did  deeds  which  he  bitterly  repented  after- 
wards. 

Thus  things  remained.  Gaston,  the  son, 
grew  up,  and  became  a  fine  young  gentle- 
man. He  was  very  handsome,  and  exactly 
resembled  his  father  in  form  and  feature. 

When  he  was  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  years 
old,  he  took  it  into  his  head  to  make  a  journey 
into  Navarre  to  visit  his  mother  and  uncle. 
It  was  an  unfortunate  journey  for  him  and 
his  country.  On  his  arrival  in  Navarre  he 
was  splendidly  entertained,  and  he  stayed 


98  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

some  time  with  his  mother.  On  taking  leave 
he  entreated  her  to  go  back  with  him,  but, 
hearing  that  the  Count  de  Foix  had  given  no 
orders  as  to  this,  his  mother  was  afraid  to 
trust  herself  with  him.  She  therefore  re- 
mained behind,  and  the  heir  of  Foix  went  to 
take  leave  of  his  uncle. 

On  his  departure  the  King  of  Navarre 
made  him  handsome  presents.  The  last  gift 
the  King  gave  him  was  the  cause  of  his 
death,  and  this  is  how  it  happened. 

As  the  youth  was  on  the  point  of  setting 
out,  the  King  took  him  privately  into  his 
chamber  and  gave  him  a  bag  of  powder, 
which  was  of  such  evil  quality  that  it  would 
cause  the  death  of  any  one  who  ate  of  it. 

"  Gaston,  my  fair  nephew,"  said  the  King  of 
Navarre,  "  will  you  do  what  I  am  about  to  tell 
you?  You  see  how  unjustly  the  Count  de 
Foix  hates  your  mother,  who  being  my  sister, 
it  displeases  me  as  much  as  it  should  you. 
If  you  wish  to  reconcile  your  father  to  your 
mother,  you  must  take  a  small  pinch  of  this 
powder,  and,  when  you  see  a  proper  oppor- 
tunity, strew  it  over  the  meat  destined  for 


COUNT  DE  FOIX'S  ONLY  SON    99 

your  father's  table;  but  take  care  no  one 
sees  you.  The  instant  he  tastes  it,  he  will 
long  for  his  wife,  your  mother,  to  return  to 
him ;  and  they  will  love  each  other  henceforth 
so  dearly,  they  will  never  again  be  separated. 
But  do  not  tell  this  to  any  one,  for  if  you  do 
it  will  lose  its  effect." 

The  lad,  who  believed  everything  his  uncle 
had  told  him,  replied  he  would  cheerfully  do 
as  he  said,  and  on  this  he  departed  and  re- 
turned to  Orthes.  His  father,  the  Count  de 
Foix,  received  him  with  pleasure,  and  asked 
what  was  the  news  in  Navarre,  and  what 
presents  and  jewels  had  been  given  him. 
"Very  handsome  ones,"  answered  the  boy; 
and  showed  them  all,  except  the  bag  which 
contained  the  powder. 

Now  a  young  kinsman  called  Evan  slept  in 
the  same  chamber  as  Gaston;  they  loved 
each  other,  and  were  dressed  alike,  for  they 
were  very  nearly  of  the  same  size  and  age. 
It  fell  out  that  their  clothes  were  once  mixed 
together,  and,  the  coat  of  Gaston  being  on 
the  bed,  Evan,  who  was  malicious  enough, 
noticing  the  powder  in  the  bag,  said  to 


100  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Gaston,  "What  is  this  that  you  wear  every 
day  on  your  breast  ?  " 

Gaston  was  not  pleased  at  the  question, 
and  replied,  "  Give  me  back  my  coat,  Evan  ; 
you  have  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

Evan  flung-  him  his  coat,  which  Gaston 
put  on,  but  he  was  very  thoughtful  the  whole 
day. 

Three  days  after,  Gaston  quarrelled  with 
Evan  at  tennis,  and  gave  him  a  box  on  the 
ear.  The  boy  was  vexed  at  this,  and  ran 
crying  to  the  Count,  who  asked  what  was 
the  matter. 

"Gaston  has  beaten  me,"  replied  Evan, 
"but  he  deserves  beating  much  more  than 
I  do." 

"  For  what  reason  ?  "  asked  the  Count. 

"Ever  since  his  return  from  Navarre  he 
wears  on  his  breast  a  bag  of  powder,"  said 
the  boy;  "I  know  not  what  use  it  can  be, 
nor  what  he  intends  to  do  with  it,  except 
that  he  has  once  or  twice  told  me  that  his 
mother  would  soon  return  hither,  and  be 
more  in  your  good  graces  than  ever  she  was." 

"  Ho  1 "  said  the  Count,  "  hold  your  tongue, 


COUNT  DE  FOIX'S  ONLY  SON    101 

and  be  sure  you  do  not  mention  what  you 
have  just  told  me  to  any  man  breathing." 

"My  lord,  I  will  obey  you,"  replied  the 
youth. 

The  Count  de  Foix  was  very  thoughtful 
on  this  subject,  and  remained  alone  till 
dinner-time,  when  he  rose  up  and  seated  him- 
self as  usual  at  his  table  in  the  hall.  His 
son  Gaston  always  placed  the  dishes  before 
him  and  tasted  the  meats.  As  soon  as  he 
had  served  the  first  dish  and  done  what 
was  usual,  the  Count  cast  his  eye  on  him, 
having  formed  his  plan,  and  saw  the  strings 
of  the  bag  hanging  from  his  tunic.  This 
sight  made  him  very  angry,  and  he  said, 
"Gaston,  come  hither;  I  want  to  whisper 
you  something." 

The  boy  advanced  to  the  table,  when  the 
Count,  opening  his  tunic,  with  his  knife  cut 
away  the  bag. 

The  lad  was  thunderstruck  and  said  not 
a  word,  but  turned  pale  with  fear,  and  began 
to  tremble  greatly,  for  he  was  conscious  he 
had  done  wrong. 

The  Count  opened  the  bag,  took  some  of 


102  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

the  powder,  which  he  strewed  over  a  slice 
of  bread,  and  calling  a  dog  to  him,  gave  it 
him  to  eat.  The  instant  the  dog  had  eaten  a 
morsel  he  fell  down  and  died. 

The  Count  was  enraged  at  this,  and  indeed 
had  reason,  for  he  thought  the  powder  was 
meant  by  his  son  to  poison  him.  Rising  from 
the  table,  he  would  have  struck  at  his  son 
with  a  knife,  but  the  knights  and  squires 
rushed  in  between  them,  saying,  "  For  God's 
sake,  my  lord,  do  not  be  too  hasty,  but  make 
further  inquiries  before  you  do  any  ill  to  your 
son.  Perhaps  he  was  ignorant  of  what  was 
in  the  bag,  and  may  therefore  be  blameless." 

"Well,"  said  the  Count,  "let  him  be  im- 
prisoned in  the  dungeon  and  safely  guarded." 

Gaston  was  therefore  imprisoned  in  the 
tower. 

The  Count  de  Foix  took  the  matter  most 
bitterly  to  heart,  as  was  plainly  to  be  seen,  for 
he  assembled  at  Orthes  all  the  nobles  and 
prelates  of  Foix  and  Be'arn,  and  the  other 
principal  persons  of  the  country.  When 
they  were  met,  he  told  them  why  he  had 
summoned  them,  and  how  guilty  he  had 


COUNT  DE  FOIX'S  ONLY  SON     103 

found  Gaston,  so  much  so,  that  he  considered 
him  deserving  of  death.  They  all  at  once 
begged  him  to  spare  his  son's  life.  When 
the  Count  heard  them  speak  in  favour  of 
Gaston,  he  hesitated,  and  thought  he  might 
be  sufficiently  punished  by  two  or  three 
months'  imprisonment,  when  he  would  send 
him  on  his  travels  for  a  few  years,  until  his 
ill  conduct  should  be  forgotten,  and  he  feel 
grateful  for  the  mercy  that  had  been  shown 
him.  He  therefore  dissolved  the  meeting, 
but  those  of  Foix  would  not  leave  Orthes 
until  the  Count  had  assured  them  Gaston 
should  not  be  put  to  death,  so  great  was 
their  affection  to  him.  The  Count  promised 
this,  but  said  he  should  be  kept  some  time 
in  prison.  It  was  a  most  bitter  thought  to 
him  that  the  son  whom  he  loved  so  dearly, 
and  for  whom  he  had  always  done  so  much, 
should  prove  such  a  traitor,  and  seek  to 
murder  him  by  poison.  And  all  this  time 
Gaston  never  sought  to  excuse  himself  or 
explain  what  he  had  thought  was  the  real 
object  of  the  little  bag  of  powder. 
Gaston  was  put  into  a  room  in  the  dungeon, 


104  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

where  there  was  little  light,  and  there  he 
remained  ten  days.  He  scarcely  ate  or  drank 
anything  of  the  food  that  was  regularly 
brought  to  him,  but  threw  it  aside.  It  is 
said  that  after  his  death  all  the  meat  was 
found  untouched,  so  it  was  marvellous  how 
he  could  have  lived  so  long.  The  Count 
would  not  permit  any  one  to  remain  in  the 
chamber  to  advise  or  comfort  him;  he 
therefore  never  put  off  the  clothes  he  had 
on  when  he  entered  the  prison.  The  boy's 
heart  was  broken ;  he  had  never  expected 
so  much  harshness;  he  cared  no  longer  to 
live. 

On  the  day  of  his  death  those  who  brought 
him  food  said,  "  Gaston,  here  is  meat  for  you." 

"Put  it  down,"  said  the  boy,  paying  no 
attention  to  it. 

The  person  who  served  him,  looking  about, 
saw  all  the  meat  untouched  that  he  had 
brought  there  the  last  days.  Shutting  the 
door,  he  went  to  the  Count  and  said : 

"  My  lord,  look  to  your  son ;  he  is  starving 
himself  in  his  prison.  I  do  not  believe  he  has 
eaten  anything  since  he  was  put  there,  for  I 


COUNT  DE   FOIX'S  ONLY  SON    105 

see  all  that  I  have  carried  to  him  lying  on  one 
side  untouched." 

On  hearing  this,  the  Count  was  enraged, 
and  without  saying  a  word  went  to  the  prison 
of  his  son.  In  an  evil  hour  he  had  in  his  hand 
a  tiny  knife,  with  which  he  had  been  paring 
his  nails ;  he  held  it  by  the  blade  so  closely 
that  barely  the  tiniest  edge  of  the  point 
appeared.  Pushing  aside  the  tapestry  that 
covered  the  entrance  of  the  prison,  he  chanced 
by  ill-luck  to  graze  the  throat  of  his  son,  as 
he  exclaimed,  "  Ha,  traitor,  why  dost  thou 
not  eat  ? "  and  instantly  left  the  room,  with- 
out saying  or  doing  anything  more. 

The  boy  was  much  frightened  at  his  father's 
arrival,  and  also  exceedingly  weak  from  fast- 
ing. The  point  of  the  knife,  small  as  it  was, 
cut  a  vein,  which  as  soon  as  he  felt  he  turned 
himself  on  one  side  and  died. 

The  Count  had  barely  got  back  to  his 
apartment  when  the  attendants  of  his  son 
came  and  said : 

"  My  lord,  Gaston  is  dead." 

"Dead!"  cried  the  Count.  He  would  not 
believe  it,  and  sent  one  of  his  knights  to 


io6  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

see.  The  knight  on  his  return  said  it  was 
true. 

The  Count  was  now  bitterly  affected,  and 
cried,  "Ah,  Gaston,  Gaston,  what  a  sorry 
business  has  this  turned  out  for  thee  and  me ! 
In  an  evil  hour  didst  thou  go  to  visit  thy 
mother  in  Navarre.  Never  shall  I  again 
enjoy  the  happiness  I  had  formerly!" 

He  then  ordered  his  barber  to  be  sent  for, 
and  was  shaven  quite  bare  ;  he  clothed  him- 
self and  all  his  household  in  black.  The 
body  of  the  boy  was  borne,  with  tears  and 
lamentations,  to  the  church  of  the  Augustin 
Friars  at  Orthes,  where  it  was  buried. 

This  was  the  death  of  young  Gaston  de 
Foix.  His  father  indeed  killed  him,  but  the 
King  of  Navarre  was  the  cause  of  the  sad 
event. 


The  Magic  Messenger 

THE  story  I  am  about  to  relate  will  astonish 
my  readers.  It  was  told  by  a  squire  of  the 
Count  de  Foix  at  Orthes  to  Sir  John  Frois- 
sart,  who  was  staying  there  at  that  time. 

About  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
there  lived,  in  the  country  of  B£arn,  a  baron 
called  Raymond,  Lord  of  Corasse.  This 
Lord  of  Corasse  had  a  suit  at  Avignon 
against  a  clerk  of  Catalonia,  for  the  tithes  of 
his  church,  which  were  worth  a  hundred 
florins  a  year.  The  clerk  proved  his  right  so 
clearly  that  judgment  was  given  in  his  favour, 
and  he  hastened  to  Be*arn  to  secure  the 
money;  but  the  Lord  of  Corasse  refused  to 
pay  anything. 

"  Master  Peter,  I  do  not  believe  you  will  be 
bold  enough  to  collect  anything  belonging  to 
me,"  he  said,  "  for  if  you  do,  your  life  shall 

pay  for  it.    Go  elsewhere  and  seek  for  tithes, 
107 


io8  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

for  you  shall  not  have  anything  from  my 
estates." 

The  clerk  was  afraid  of  the  knight,  for  he 
knew  him  to  be  a  cruel  man,  and  dared  not 
persevere.  Before  setting  out  on  his  return 
to  Avignon,  he  came  again  to  the  Lord  of 
Corasse,  and  said  to  him :  "  By  force,  and 
not  by  justice,  you  deprive  me  of  the  rights  of 
my  church.  I  am  not  so  powerful  in  this 
country  as  you  are ;  but  know  that,  as  soon  as 
I  possibly  can,  I  will  send  you  a  champion 
that  you  will  be  more  afraid  of  than  you  have 
hitherto  been  of  me." 

The  Lord  of  Corasse,  not  alarmed  at  his 
threats,  replied :  "  Go,  in  heaven's  name,  go ! 
Do  what  you  can.  I  fear  you  neither  dead 
nor  alive,  and  will  not  for  your  speeches  lose 
my  property." 

The  clerk  then  departed,  but  he  did  not 
forget  what  he  had  told  the  Lord  of  Corasse 
on  leaving  him.  About  three  months  after, 
when  the  knight  least  thought  of  it,  and  was 
asleep  in  bed  in  his  castle  of  Corasse,  there 
came  invisible  messengers,  who  made  a  great 
noise,  knocking  about  everything  they  met 


"I  will  send  you  a  champion  that  you  will  be  more  afraid  of." 

I' age  ic 


THE  MAGIC  MESSENGER        in 

within  the  castle,  as  if  they  were  determined 
to  destroy  all  within  it,  and  giving  loud  raps 
at  the  door  of  the  knight's  chamber.  The 
knight  heard  it  all,  but  did  not  say  a  word, 
as  he  would  not  have  it  appear  that  he  was 
alarmed,  for  he  was  a  man  of  sufficient 
courage  for  any  adventure.  These  noises 
continued  in  different  parts  of  the  castle  for 
some  time,  and  then  ceased. 

On  the  morrow  all  the  servants  of  the  house- 
hold assembled  and  went  to  their  master. 

"My  lord,"  they  said,  "did  you  not  hear 
what  we  have  all  heard  this  night?" 

The  Lord  of  Corasse  pretended  not  to  know 
what  they  were  talking  about;  they  related 
to  him  all  the  noises  they  had  heard,  and 
that  the  plates  in  the  kitchen  had  been 
broken.  He  began  to  laugh,  and  said  it  was 
nothing ;  they  had  dreamed  it,  or  that  it  had 
been  the  wind. 

On  the  following  night  the  noises  and  riot- 
ing were  renewed,  but  much  louder  than 
before;  and  there  were  such  blows  struck 
against  the  door  and  windows  of  the  knight's 
room,  that  it  seemed  they  would  break  them 


112  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

down.  The  knight  could  no  longer  refrain 
from  leaping  out  of  bed,  and  calling  out, 
"  Who  is  it  that  at  this  hour  thus  knocks  at 
my  chamber  door  ?  " 

"It  is  I,"  was  the  instant  answer. 

"And  who  sends  thee  hither?"  asked  the 
knight. 

"The  clerk  of  Catalonia  whom  thou  hast 
much  wronged,  for  thou  hast  deprived  him 
of  his  rights.  I  will  therefore  never  leave 
thee  quiet  until  thou  hast  rendered  him 
a  just  account,  with  which  he  shall  be  con- 
tented." 

"What  art  thou  called,"  said  the  knight, 
"who  art  so  good  a  messenger?" 

"My  name  is  Orthon." 

"  Orthon,"  said  the  knight,  "  serving  a  clerk 
will  not  be  of  much  advantage  to  thee;  I 
beg  thou  wilt  leave  him  and  serve  me." 

Orthon  was  ready  with  his  answer,  for 
he  had  taken  a  liking  to  the  knight. 

"Do  you  wish  it?"  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  knight ;  "  but  no  harm 
must  be  done  to  any  one  within  these  walls." 

"Oh,  no,"  answered  Orthon;  "I  have  no 


THE  MAGIC   MESSENGER        113 

power  to  do  ill  to  any  one ;  only  to  awaken 
thee  and  disturb  thy  rest,  or  that  of  other 
persons." 

"  Do  what  I  tell  thee,"  added  the  knight ; 
"we  shall  well  agree.  Leave  this  worthless 
fellow  and  serve  me." 

"Well,"  said  Orthon,  "since  thou  wilt  have 
it  so,  I  consent." 

Orthon  took  such  an  affection  to  the  Lord 
of  Corasse  that  he  came  often  to  see  him 
in  the  night-time;  and  when  he  found  him 
sleeping  he  pulled  his  pillow  from  under  his 
head,  or  made  great  noises  at  the  door 
or  windows ;  so  that  when  the  knight 
was  awakened,  he  said  "Orthon,  let  me 
sleep." 

"  I  will  not,"  replied  he,  "until  I  have  told 
thee  some  news." 

"  Well,"  said  the  knight,  "  and  what  news 
hast  thou  brought  me?" 

Orthon  used  to  reply  that  he  had  come 
from  England,  Hungary,  or  some  other  place, 
which  he  had  left  the  day  before,  and  that 
such  and  such  things  had  happened.  Thus 
did  the  Lord  of  Corasse  know  by  Orthon 


114  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

all   things   that   were   passing   in    different 
parts  of  the  world. 

This  connection  lasted  five  years,  Orthon 
visiting  his  master  two  or  three  times  a 
week,  and  telling  him  all  the  news  of  the 
countries  he  frequented.  But  in  the  mean- 
while the  knight  could  not  keep  the  secret  to 
himself,  and  made  it  known  to  Count  Gaston 
de  Foix.  The  Count  marvelled  greatly  how 
the  Lord  of  Corasse  knew  what  was  happen- 
ing in  England,  Scotland,  Germany,  or  some 
other  country,  so  the  knight  told  him  about 
his  magic  messenger.  The  Count  was  de- 
lighted at  such  a  method  of  learning  news. 
"  Have  you  never  yet  seen  your  messenger?" 
he  asked  once,  when  they  were  talking  about 
the  subject. 

"  No,  by  my  faith,  never ;  nor  have  I  ever 
pressed  him  on  this  matter,"  replied  the 
knight. 

"I  wonder  at  that,"  said  the  Count, 
"for  had  he  been  as  much  attached  to 
me,  I  should  have  begged  of  him  to  have 
shown  himself  in  his  own  proper  form ; 
and  I  entreat  you  will  do  so,  that  you 


THE   MAGIC   MESSENGER        115 

may  tell  how  he  is  made,  and  what  he  is 
like." 

"Since  you  request  it,  I  will  do  all  I  can 
to  see  him,"  said  the  Lord  de  Corasse. 

It  fell  out  that  when  the  Lord  de  Corasse, 
as  usual,  was  in  bed,  Orthon  arrived,  and 
shook  the  pillow  of  the  knight,  who  was 
asleep.  On  waking,  he  asked  who  was  there. 

Orthon  replied,  "  It  is  I." 

"  And  where  dost  thou  come  from  ?  " 

"  I  come  from  Prague  in  Bohemia." 

"  How  far  is  it  from  here  ?  " 

"  Sixty  days' journey." 

"And  hast  thou  returned  from  there  in 
so  short  a  time?" 

"Yes,  I  travel  as  fast  as  the  wind,  or 
faster." 

"  What,  hast  thou  got  wings  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no." 

"How  then  canst  thou  fly  so  fast? " 

"That  is  no  business  of  yours." 

"No!"  said  the  knight.  "I  should  like 
exceedingly  to  see  what  form  thou  hast, 
and  how  thou  art  made." 

"  That  does  not  concern  you  to  know,"  said 


ii6  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Orthon.  "  Be  satisfied  that  you  hear  me, 
and  that  I  bring  you  intelligence  you  may 
depend  on." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  the  Lord  de  Corasse, 
"I  should  love  thee  better  if  I  had  seen 
thee." 

"Well,"  replied  Orthon,  "since  you  have 
such  a  desire,  the  first  thing  you  shall  see 
to-morrow  morning,  in  quitting  your  bed, 
shall  be  myself." 

"I  am  satisfied,"  said  the  knight;  "you 
may  now  depart ;  I  give  thee  thy  liberty  for 
this  night." 

When  morning  came,  the  knight  arose, 
and,  leaping  out  of  his  bed,  he  seated  himself 
on  the  bedstead,  thinking  he  should  see 
Orthon  in  his  own  shape,  but  he  saw  nothing 
that  could  induce  him  to  say  he  had  seen 
him.  When  the  next  night  arrived,  Orthon 
came  and  began  to  talk  in  his  usual  manner. 

"Go,"  said  the  knight,  "thou  art  a  liar; 
thou  oughtest  to  have  shown  thyself  to  me 
this  morning,  and  hast  not  done  so." 

"  No ! "  replied  Orthon.    "  But  I  have." 

"  I  say,  no." 


THE  MAGIC   MESSENGER        117 

"  And  did  you  see  nothing  at  all  when  you 
leaped  out  of  bed  ?  " 

The  Lord  de  Corasse  was  silent,  and 
having  considered  awhile  said, ", "  Yes ;  when 
sitting  on  my  bedside,  and  thinking  of  thee, 
I  saw  two  straws  which  were  turning  and 
playing  together  on  the  floor." 

"That  was  myself,"  replied  Orthon,  "for 
I  had  taken  that  form." 

"That  will  not  satisfy  me,"  said  the  Lord 
de  Corasse.  "  I  beg  of  thee  to  assume  some 
other  shape,  so  that  I  may  see  thee  and 
know  thee." 

"You  ask  so  much  that  you  will  ruin  me 
and  force  me  away  from  you,"  replied  Orthon, 
"  for  your  requests  are  too  great." 

"You  shall  not  leave  me,"  said  the  Lord 
de  Corasse ;  "  if  I  had  once  seen  thee,  I  should 
not  again  wish  it." 

"Well,"  replied  Orthon,  "you  shall  see 
me  to-morrow,  if  you  pay  attention  to  the 
first  thing  you  observe  when  you  leave  your 
chamber."  And  so  he  departed. 

On  the  morrow,  about  the  hour  of  eight, 
the  knight  had  risen  and  was  dressed ;  on 


n8  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

leaving  his  room  he  went  to  a  window  which 
looked  into  the  court  of  the  castle.  Casting 
his  eyes  about,  the  first  thing  he  observed 
was  an  immensely  large  sow;  but  she  was 
so  poor  she  seemed  only  skin  and  bone, 
with  long  hanging  ears,  and  a  sharp-pointed 
lean  snout. 

The  Lord  de  Corasse  was  disgusted  at 
such  a  sight,  and,  calling  to  his  servants, 
said :  "  Let  the  dogs  loose  quickly,  for  I  will 
have  that  sow  killed  and  devoured." 

The  servants  hastened  to  open  the  kennel 
and  to  set  the  hounds  on  the  sow ;  she  uttered 
a  loud  cry,  and  looked  up  at  the  Lord  de 
Corasse,  leaning  on  the  balcony  of  his  win- 
dow, and  was  never  seen  afterwards — for 
she  vanished,  and  no  one  ever  knew  what 
became  of  her. 

The  knight  returned  quite  pensive  to  his 
chamber,  for  he  then  remembered  what 
Orthon  had  said  to  him. 

"I  believe  I  have  seen  my  messenger 
Orthon,"  he  said  to  himself,  "and  repent 
having  set  my  hounds  on  him,  for  perhaps 
I  may  never  see  him  more.  He  often  told 


THE   MAGIC   MESSENGER       119 

me  that  if   I   ever   angered  him,   I  should 
lose  him." 

Orthon  kept  his  word,  for  never  did  he 
return  to  the  castle  of  Corasse,  and  the 
following  year  the  knight  died. 


A  ChilcUQueen 

KING  EDWARD  III.  was  dead,  and  so  was 
his  son,  the  gallant  Prince  of  Wales  (better 
known  to  us,  perhaps,  under  the  name  of 
the  "Black  Prince"),  and  Richard  II.,  son 
of  the  Black  Prince,  was  on  the  throne 
of  England.  War  still  smouldered  between 
France  and  England,  but  the  kings  of  both 
countries  were  weary  of  it,  and  after  some 
discussion  a  truce  of  four  years  was  agreed 
on.  King  Richard  was  especially  anxious 
that  a  stable  peace  should  be  established. 
He  said  that  the  war  had  lasted  too  long, 
and  that  too  many  valiant  men  had  been 
slain  on  both  sides,  to  the  great  weakening 
of  the  defenders  of  the  Christian  faith. 

King  Richard's  first  wife  being  dead,  he 
wished  to  marry  again,  and  research  was 
made  everywhere  to  find  a  suitable  lady. 
Various  princesses  were  suggested,  but  his 


A  CHILD-QUEEN  121 

thoughts  were  so  bent  on  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  King  of  France  that  he  would  not 
hear  of  any  other.  The  Princess  Isabella 
was  at  that  time  only  eight  years  old.  The 
people  of  England  wondered  greatly  that 
he  should  be  so  eager  to  marry  the  daughter 
of  his  adversary,  and  they  were  not  at  all 
pleased  at  the  idea  of  the  marriage.  To 
put  it  out  of  the  King's  mind  they  told  him 
the  lady  was  by  far  too  young,  and  that 
for  several  years  to  come  she  would  not  be 
of  a  proper  age  for  a  wife.  He  replied  by 
saying  that  every  day  she  would  grow  older, 
and  in  addition  gave  his  reasons  for  prefer- 
ring her,  that  since  she  was  so  young  he 
should  educate  her,  and  bring  her  up  to 
his  own  mind,  and  to  the  manners  of  the 
English  ;  and  that  for  himself  he  was  young 
enough  to  wait  until  she  should  be  of  proper 
age  for  his  wife.  In  short,  nothing  would 
make  him  alter  his  intention,  so  in  due  course 
the  Earl  Marshal  and  the  English  Ambas- 
sadors went  to  Paris  to  demand  the  hand 
of  the  Princess  Isabella  from  her  father 
the  King  of  France. 


122  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

They  were  excellently  well  entertained  by 
the  French  King  and  his  court ;  their  nego- 
tiations were  successful,  and  the  marriage 
between  the  King  of  England  and  the  Prin- 
cess Isabella  was  agreed  on.  She  was 
betrothed  and  espoused  by  the  Earl  Marshal 
as  proxy  for  the  King  of  England,  and  the 
young  princess  ever  after  was  styled  "  Queen 
of  England."  It  was  told  at  the  time  it 
was  pleasant  to  see  that,  young  as  she  was, 
she  knew  well  how  to  act  the  Queen.  She 
had  been  well  educated,  as  she  showed  the 
English  lords  when  they  first  came  to  see 
her.  When  the  Lord  Marshal  had  dropped 
on  his  knees,  saying,  "  Madame,  if  it  please 
God,  you  shall  be  our  Lady  and  Queen," 
she  replied  instantly,  and  without  any  one 
advising  her,  "  Sir,  if  it  please  God,  and  my 
lord  and  father,  that  I  be  Queen  of  England, 
I  shall  be  well  pleased ;  for  I  have  been 
told  I  shall  then  be  a  great  lady."  She  made 
the  Earl  Marshal  rise,  and,  taking  him  by 
the  hand,  led  him  to  her  mother,  the  Queen 
of  France,  who  was  much  pleased  at  her 
answer,  as  were  all  who  heard  it.  The  ap- 


A  CHILD-QUEEN  123 

pearance  and  manners  of  this  young  princess 
greatly  pleased  the  English  Ambassadors, 
and  they  thought  among  themselves  that 
she  would  be  a  lady  of  high  honour  and 
great  worth. 

When  this  business  was  completed,  and 
the  different  treaties  signed  and  sealed,  the 
Ambassadors  returned  to  England,  leaving 
the  Child-Queen  still  in  the  care  of  her 
parents. 

At  last  the  day  came  when  King  Richard 
was  to  claim  his  young  bride.  It  was 
arranged  that  the  King  of  England  and  the 
King  of  France  should  meet  at  a  spot  near 
Calais,  and  great  preparations  were  made  for 
this  event.  No  expense  was  spared  on 
either  side,  and  the  lords  of  each  country 
were  all  eager  to  outshine  each  other. 

The  day  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Simon 
and  St.  Jude  (which  falls  on  the  28th  October) 
1396,  the  two  Kings  left  their  lodgings  on 
the  point  of  ten  o'clock,  and,  accompanied  by 
their  attendants,  went  to  the  tents  that  had 
been  prepared  for  each  of  them.  From  there 
they  advanced  on  foot  to  a  certain  spot  which 


124  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

had  been  fixed  on  for  their  meeting,  and 
which  was  surrounded  by  four  hundred 
French  and  as  many  English  knights,  bril- 
liantly armed,  with  swords  in  hand.  The  two 
Kings  advanced  slowly  towards  each  other 
through  the  ranks  of  these  knights,  and 
when  they  were  on  the  point  of  meeting, 
the  eight  hundred  knights  fell  on  their  knees 
and  wept  for  joy.  The  two  Kings  met  bare- 
headed, and,  having  saluted,  took  each  other 
by  the  hand;  then  the  King  of  France  led 
the  King  of  England  to  his  tent,  which  was 
handsomely  and  richly  adorned.  Here  they 
were  served  with  wine  and  spices,  as  were 
also  the  princes,  dukes,  counts,  and  all  the 
other  nobles  in  the  tent. 

The  following  day  King  Richard,  attended 
by  all  the  noblemen  who  had  accompanied 
him  from  England,  waited  on  the  King  of 
France  in  his  tent.  They  were  received  by 
the  King,  his  brother  and  uncles,  with  great 
pomp  and  most  affectionate  words.  The 
dinner-tables  were  then  laid  out,  that  for  the 
Kings  was  long  and  handsome,  and  the  side- 
board covered  with  the  most  magnificent 


A  CHILD-QUEEN  125 

plate.  The  two  Kings  were  seated  by  them- 
selves, the  King  of  France  at  the  top  of  the 
table,  and  the  King  of  England  below  him, 
but  at  a  good  distance  from  each  other. 

When  dinner  was  over,  which  did  not  last 
long,  the  cloth  was  removed,  the  tables 
carried  away,  and  wine  and  spices  brought. 
After  this  the  young  Queen  of  England 
entered  the  tent,  attended  by  a  great  number 
of  ladies  and  damsels.  The  King  of  France 
led  her  by  the  hand,  and  gave  her  to  the  King 
of  England,  who  instantly  after  took  his  leave. 
The  Queen  was  placed  in  a  very  rich  litter 
which  had  been  prepared  for  her,  but  only 
one  of  her  French  ladies  went  with  her,  for 
there  were  many  of  the  principal  ladies  of 
England  who  received  Queen  Isabella  with 
great  joy. 

On  the  Tuesday  following,  which  was  All 
Saints'  Day,  King  Richard  was  married  by 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  the  Church 
of  St.  Nicholas  at  Calais,  to  the  Lady  Isabella. 
Great  were  the  feastings  on  the  occasion,  and 
the  heralds  and  minstrels  were  so  liberally 
paid,  they  were  well  satisfied.  Two  days  later 


126  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

the  King  and  Queen  set  sail  for  England,  and 
in  less  than  three  hours  landed  at  Dover. 

The  young  Queen  made  her  entry  into 
London  fifteen  days  after,  grandly  attended 
by  lords,  ladies,  and  damsels.  She  slept  one 
night  in  the  Tower,  and  the  next  day  was 
conducted  in  great  pomp  through  the  streets 
to  Westminster,  where  the  King  was  waiting 
in  his  palace  to  receive  her.  The  Londoners 
made  rich  presents  to  the  Queen,  which  were 
graciously  accepted,  and  while  the  court  was 
at  Westminster  a  great  tournament  was 
ordered  to  be  held  in  Smithfield,  notice  of 
which  was  proclaimed  beyond  the  sea,  and  as 
far  as  Scotland. 

Alas,  these  golden  days  of  pomp  and 
pleasure  were  soon  to  pass.  Within  three 
years  the  young  Queen's  reign  was  over. 
The  fickle  people,  stirred  up  by  the  King's 
cousin,  Henry,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  rose 
against  Richard,  and  he  was  carried  prisoner 
to  the  Tower  of  London.  The  household 
of  the  young  Queen  was  broken  up.  All 
her  French  attendants  were  sent  back  to 
France,  and  neither  French  nor  English 


A  CHILD-QUEEN  127 

were  left  with  her  who  were  attached  to 
King-  Richard.  A  new  household  was  formed 
of  ladies,  damsels,  officers,  and  varlets, 
who  were  strictly  enjoined  never  to  mention 
the  name  of  King  Richard  in  their  conver- 
sation with  her. 

In  September  1399,  King  Richard  II.  re- 
signed the  throne  of  England  to  the  Duke  of 
Lancaster,  and  on  I3th  October,  Henry  IV. 
was  crowned  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  new  King  had 
some  feeling  of  tenderness  and  compassion 
for  the  unhappy  Child-Queen  whom  he  had 
thrust  from  her  rightful  position.  Her  father, 
the  King  of  France,  hearing  that  his  son-in- 
law  was  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower,  sent  over 
two  French  lords  of  high  rank  to  inquire 
into  the  situation  of  Queen  Isabella.  They 
were  allowed  to  visit  her,  on  condition  that 
they  promised  on  oath  not  to  speak  to 
her  about  what  had  lately  happened  in 
England,  nor  to  mention  Richard.  The  two 
knights  replied  they  would  not  infringe  this 
command;  all  they  wanted  was  to  see  and 
speak  with  her.  They  found  the  young 


128  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

Queen  well  attended  by  noble  ladies  and 
with  several  companions.  She  conversed 
some  time  with  them,  asking  questions  about 
her  parents,  the  King  and  Queen  of  France. 
They  kept  the  promise  they  had  made  by 
never  mentioning  the  name  of  King  Richard ; 
and  when  they  had  been  with  her  a  sufficient 
time,  took  leave  and  returned  to  London. 

They  dined  at  the  Palace  at  Eltham  with 
King  Henry  IV.,  who  presented  them  with 
some  rich  jewels.  On  taking  leave,  the  King 
parted  with  them  amicably. 

"Tell  those  who  have  sent  you,"  he  said, 
"that  the  Queen  shall  never  suffer  the 
smallest  harm  or  any  disturbance,  but  keep 
up  a  state  and  dignity  becoming  her  birth 
and  rank,  and  enjoy  all  her  rights  ;  for  young 
as  she  is,  she  ought  not  as  yet  to  be  made 
acquainted  with  the  changes  in  this  world." 

The  knights  were  very  happy  to  hear 
King  Henry  IV.  speak  thus,  and  went  back 
to  the  King  and  Queen  of  France  and  related 
to  them  what  you  have  read  here. 


The  Heart  of  King  Robert  Bruce 

ROBERT  BRUCE,  King  of  Scotland,  who  had 
been  a  very  valiant  knight,  waxed  old,  and 
was  attacked  with  so  severe  an  illness  that 
he  saw  his  end  was  drawing  near.  He 
therefore  summoned  together  all  the  chiefs 
and  barons  in  whom  he  most  confided,  and, 
having  told  them  that  he  would  never  get 
better,  he  commanded  them  upon  their 
honour  and  loyalty  to  keep  and  preserve 
faithfully  and  entire  the  kingdom  for  his 
son  David,  and  obey  and  crown  him  king 
when  he  was  of  a  proper  age,  and  marry 
him  with  a  lady  suitable  to  his  station. 

After  that  he  called  to  him  the  gallant 
Lord  James  Douglas,  and  said  to  him  in 
presence  of  the  others : 

"My  dear  friend,  Lord  James  Douglas, 
you  know  that  I  have  had  much  to  do,  and 
have  suffered  many  troubles  during  the 


130  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

time  I  have  lived  to  support  the  rights  of 
my  crown;  at  the  time  I  was  most  occu- 
pied I  made  a  vow,  the  non-accomplishment 
of  which  gives  me  much  uneasiness — I 
vowed  that  if  I  could  finish  my  wars  in  such 
a  manner  that  I  might  have  quiet  to  govern 
peacefully,  I  would  go  and  make  war  against 
the  enemies  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  adversaries  of  the  Christian  faith.  To 
this  point  my  heart  has  always  leaned ;  but 
our  Lord  was  not  willing,  and  gave  me  so 
much  to  do  in  my  lifetime,  that,  since  my 
body  cannot  accomplish  what  my  heart 
wishes,  I  will  send  my  heart  in  the  stead 
of  my  body  to  fulfil  my  vow.  And  as  I 
do  not  know  any  one  knight  so  gallant 
and  enterprising,  or  better  formed  to  com- 
plete my  intentions  than  yourself,  I  beg 
and  entreat  of  you,  dear  and  special  friend, 
as  earnestly  as  I  can,  that  you  would  have 
the  goodness  to  undertake  this  expedition 
for  the  love  of  me,  and  to  acquit  my  soul 
to  our  Lord  and  Saviour;  for  I  have  that 
opinion  of  your  nobleness  and  loyalty  that, 
if  you  undertake  it,  it  cannot  fail  of  success — 


HEART  OF   BRUCE  131 

and  I  shall  die  more  contented ;  but  it  must 
be  executed  as  follows : 

"I  will,  that  as  soon  as  I  shall  be  dead, 
you  take  my  heart  from  my  body,  and  have 
it  well  embalmed.  You  will  also  take  as 
much  money  from  my  treasury  as  will  appear 
to  you  sufficient  to  perform  your  journey, 
as  well  as  for  all  those  whom  you  may  choose 
to  take  with  you  in  your  train  ;  you  will  then 
deposit  your  charge  at  the  Holy  Sepulchre 
of  our  Lord,  where  He  was  buried,  since 
my  body  cannot  go  there.  You  will  not 
be  sparing  of  expense— and  provide  yourself 
with  such  company  and  such  things  as  may 
be  suitable  to  your  rank -and  wherever 
you  pass,  you  will  let  it  be  known  that 
you  bear  the  Heart  of  King  Robert  of 
Scotland,  which  you  are  carrying  beyond 
seas  by  his  command,  since  his  body  cannot 
go  thither." 

All  those  present  began  bewailing  bitterly ; 
and  when  the  Lord  James  could  speak,  he 
said : 

"Gallant  and  noble  King,  I  return  you 
a  hundred  thousand  thanks  for  the  high 


132  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

honour  you  do  me,  and  for  the  valuable 
and  dear  treasure  with  which  you  entrust 
me;  and  I  will  most  willingly  do  all  that 
you  command  me,  with  the  utmost  loyalty 
in  my  power ;  never  doubt  it,  however  I  may 
feel  myself  unworthy  of  such  a  high  dis- 
tinction." 

"Gallant  knight,  I  thank  you,"  replied 
the  King.  "You  promise  it  me  then?" 

"Certainly,  sir,  most  willingly,"  answered 
the  knight.  He  then  gave  his  promise  upon 
his  knighthood. 

"Thanks  be  to  God!"  said  the  King,  "for 
I  shall  now  die  in  peace,  since  I  know  that 
the  most  valiant  and  accomplished  knight 
of  my  kingdom  will  perform  that  for  me 
which  I  am  unable  to  do  for  myself." 

Soon  afterwards  the  valiant  Robert  Bruce, 
King  of  Scotland,  departed  this  life,  on  the 
7th  of  November  1337.  His  heart  was  em- 
balmed and  placed  in  a  golden  casket,  and 
his  body  was  buried  in  the  monastery  of 
Dunfermline. 

Early  in  the  spring  the  Lord  James 
Douglas,  having  provided  everything  that 


HEART  OF   BRUCE  133 

was  proper  for  his  expedition,  embarked 
at  the  port  of  Montrose,  and  sailed  directly 
for  Sluys  in  Flanders,  in  order  to  learn  if 
any  one  were  going  beyond  the  sea  to 
Jerusalem,  that  he  might  join  companies. 
He  remained  there  twelve  days,  and  would 
not  set  his  foot  on  shore,  but  stayed  the 
whole  time  on  board,  where  he  kept  a  magnifi- 
cent state,  with  music  of  trumpets  and  drums, 
as  if  he  had  been  the  King  of  Scotland.  His 
company  consisted  of  one  knight  banneret, 
and  seven  others  of  the  most  valiant  knights 
of  Scotland,  without  counting  the  rest  of 
his  household.  His  plate  was  of  gold  and 
silver,  consisting  of  pots,  basins,  porringers, 
cups,  bottles,  barrels,  and  other  such  things. 
He  had  likewise  six-and-twenty  young  and 
gallant  esquires  of  the  best  families  in  Scot- 
land to  wait  on  him ;  and  all  the  high  nobles 
who  came  to  visit  him  were  handsomely 
served  as  if  they  were  in  some  royal  presence. 
At  last,  after  staying  at  Sluys  twelve 
days,  he  heard  that  Alphonso,  King  of  Spain, 
was  waging  war  against  the  Saracen  King 
of  Granada.  He  considered  that  if  he  went 


134  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

thither  to  aid  the  Christians  in  their  war 
against  the  infidels  he  should  be  carrying 
out  the  wishes  of  King  Robert  Bruce,  and 
when  he  should  have  finished  fighting  against 
the  Saracens  in  Spain  he  would  journey 
onwards  to  the  Holy  Land  to  complete  the 
vow  with  which  he  was  charged.  He  made 
sail  therefore  towards  Spain,  and  landed 
first  at  Valentia ;  from  there  he  went  straight 
to  the  King  of  Spain,  who  was  with  his  army 
on  the  frontier,  very  near  the  Saracen  King 
of  Granada. 

It  happened  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Lord  James  Douglas  that  the  King  of  Spain 
issued  forth  into  the  field  to  advance  nearer 
the  enemy;  the  King  of  Granada  did  the 
same;  each  King  could  easily  distinguish 
the  other's  banners,  and  they  both  began  to 
set  their  armies  in  array.  The  Lord  James 
placed  himself  and  his  company  on  one  side, 
to  do  better  work  and  make  a  more  powerful 
effort.  When  he  saw  that  the  battalions  on 
each  side  were  fully  arranged  and  that  of  the 
King  of  Spain  in  motion,  he  imagined  they 
were  about  to  begin  the  onset;  and  as  he 


HEART  OF   BRUCE  135 

always  wished  to  be  among  the  first  rather 
than  last  on  such  occasions,  he  and  all  his 
company  stuck  their  spurs  into  their  horses, 
charged  into  the  midst  of  the  King  of 
Granada's  battalion,  and  made  a  furious 
attack  on  the  Saracens.  He  thought  they 
would  be  supported  by  the  Spaniards ;  but  in 
this  he  was  mistaken,  for  not  one  that  day 
followed  his  example.  The  Moorish  cavalry 
fled,  and  Douglas  with  his  companions  eagerly 
pursued  them.  Taking  from  his  neck  the 
casket  which  contained  the  Heart  of  Bruce, 
he  threw  it  before  him  and  cried,  "Now  pass 
thou  onward  as  thou  wast  wont,  and 
Douglas  will  follow  thee,  or  die  I"  The 
Moors  rallied,  and  surrounded  the  small 
body  of  Scottish  knights;  they  performed 
prodigies  of  valour,  but  it  was  of  no  avail; 
they  were  all  killed.  Douglas  fell  while 
attempting  to  rescue  Sir  William  St.  Clair 
of  Roslin,  whom  he  saw  in  jeopardy  and  who 
shared  his  fate.  Robert  and  Walter  Logan, 
both  of  them  knights,  and  many  of  his  com- 
panions were  also  slain  with  their  master. 
On  the  succeeding  day  his  few  surviving 


136  HONOUR  AND  ARMS 

companions  found  his  body  in  the  field, 
together  with  the  casket.  Sir  Simon  of  Lee, 
a  distinguished  companion  of  Douglas,  took 
charge  of  the  casket,  and  that  and  the  body 
of  Lord  James  Douglas  were  reverently  con- 
veyed to  Scotland.  The  Heart  of  Robert 
Bruce  was  placed  in  the  Abbey  at  Melrose ; 
the  body  of  Lord  James  Douglas  was  buried 
in  the  grave  of  his  fathers  in  the  parish  church 
of  Douglas. 

A  nobler  death  on  the  field  of  battle  is  not 
recorded  in  the  annals  of  chivalry.  His 
countrymen  have  kept  his  fame  for  ever  alive 
by  the  name  they  have  bestowed  on  him,  "  the 
good  Sir  James  Douglas." 


WELLS   GARDNER,   DARTON   <&»  CO.   LTD. 


A     000  111  172     3 


